(Senior PNP Members – Hannah, Brown-Burke, Robinson, Bunting, Golding and Phillips)
What with this group of 6? People’s National Party (PNP) needs a consensus leader to take it back to the “promised land”
As PM Holness commences his 2nd term as Prime Minister, the question of who will succeed Peter Phillips as President of the PNP is gaining greater significance. If several or all in this group of 6, are interested in the job, the PNP could be on the road to even more internal struggles and further splintering. Portia Simpson-Miller and P.J. Patterson must be wondering, how it all came crashing down so quickly for their active comrades?
Could Peter Bunting (finally) get his wish to be PNP President?
One interesting scenario (I heard) is that Bunting could run in the seat being vacated by Peter Phillips and that Mark Golding could hold the presidency while the PNP shifts the furnishings around. Golding and Bunting being former “brethren’s” in banking, they should share enough mutual trust for such a risky maneuver to succeed. All that “song and dance” should give Holness at least 6 months to hone his new cabinet and Jamaica’s sprawling parastatal infrastructure.
PM Holness very powerful in Parliament and tenuous (at best) on Jamaican streets: On one hand, the results of the September 3rd elections, voted Holness as the second most powerful PM to manage Jamaica’s executive affairs, by reason of seats in the House. P.J. Patterson being the most powerful, governing with 50 seats against Holness’ current 48. On the other hand, Holness may be the weakest Prime Minister on Jamaican streets ever; Given that (perhaps) more than 75% of the registered electors did not vote for his victorious JLP. Further, only 37% of registered electors voted on September 3rd. Down from 47% in 2016. The goal is (therefore) wide open for a resurgent PNP to score big, unless Holness can tighten things in defense.
Taming: COVID, corruption and crime; Delivering: economic expansion and transition; and Equitable: health care, education and social safety net.
If PM Holness does well enough to persuade a majority of Jamaicans that his administration is making good progress in those key areas, he could put the PNP out to pasture for a very long time.
Furthermore, in order to lay claim to the mantle of majority party (in Jamaica) Holness and the JLP, must string together, 3 or 4 successive victories with high seat counts and high voter-turn-out. More successive victories by the JLP is exactly what a new PNP President would want to prevent.
Walk good until next time
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst