Does the PNP's talk have substance?

It is good that Ronnie Thwaites, the parliamentarian, has rebuked criminals and made it clear that he does not want them to be part of the polemical process in his Central Kingston constituency and, more broadly, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP).

The PNP has been making a lot of those kinds of statements recently and has named an ethics commission to determine whether its election candidates meet 'fit and proper' criteria.

It is, however, one thing to make declarations. It is often another to act on them. We are not certain that the PNP has been doing much of the latter.

A number of candidates/caretakers have been named by the party recently in several constituencies, but without evidence that they have been measured against the fit-and-proper criteria - assuming that the party has decided on those.

More theatrics

But more fundamentally, the party's position, so far, appears to be more theatrics and form than a robust attempt at transformation.

For all its talks, there is no sign of the PNP turning its face hard against men of muscle, as well as those who flirt only at the edge of lawfulness and operate on a wider rim than the periphery of the party. There is no aggressive house-cleaning.

It would be useful, for example, if either the party's chairman, general secretary or leader would clarify if it's possible for a member to be suspended from his/her position/post and still attend, and be seated at meetings of the PNP's National Executive Council.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.