Dear Editor,

I recently heard audio on the newscast of People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding telling a political meeting in St Andrew East Rural that “…dem haffi go vote for Comrade Patrick Peterkin when di election call and even some who not alive, if dem can deal with it, no problem. Cause, as dem say, a we name power, power party”.

Jest or not, Golding appeared to commit, at minimum, a most egregious act of encouraging electoral malpractice. An aspiring political leader appearing to raise the spectre of the dark days of votes being cast in the names of deceased people should not be countenanced, not for a second. Golding’s utterance should be repelled in the most decisive way.

During the same speech, I heard him also declaring that the people of Jamaica want him as prime minister surrounded by a set of “topanaris”. I had to listen to this piece of audio thrice, because I was in disbelief. “Toparnaris”, according to the online dictionary, means a rich snob who does not like to share. In Jamaica we often use the term to describe people who behave as if they are better than others. Are these the people Golding proposes to surround himself with should he be elected prime minister?

I wonder if Golding knows what he said or whether he is merely betraying his feelings towards the masses of ordinary Jamaicans and our capacity to be involved in the leadership process.

Additionally, not too long ago the PNP president referred to a political opponent as “di likkle bwoy”. He declined overtures from the then political ombudsman to apologise. During another speech on the political platform, Golding urged PNP supporters to “get wicked” on their political opponents. Golding was also distasteful when he used the political platform to refer to Shaniel Francis, a resident of St Catherine, who was given a house by the Government, as “di likkle lady”.

However, apart from his intemperate comments on the political platform, most concerning to me is Golding’s insistence that the Government ease back from its strategy of aggressive debt reduction. High debt has been an albatross around the neck of the Jamaican economy for many years. Even Golding’s PNP colleague Dr Peter Phillips felt the need to declare that the best legacy this generation can leave the next is low debt.

The PNP president cannot claim to be unfamiliar with the harm that policies of a former PNP Administration wreaked on this country and how they caused debt to spiral. How dare he suggest an adjustment in the successful debt reduction strategy which has made available funds for expenditure on important social and infrastructure programmes? Quite unbecoming.

I’ve been listening to Golding’s utterances on the political platform and in Parliament, and based on my assessment of his temperament and his sense of what’s appropriate, I genuinely believe his days as leader of the PNP are numbered.

Beverley Buchanan

beverleybuchanan@gmail.com