Using reshuffle to rate performance

Prime Minister Bruce Golding's first major reshuffle, which took place last week, had to be based on performance from Mr Golding's own perspective. Put another way, this reshuffle is the outcome of a performance evaluation undertaken by the PM. I have, therefore, tried to put myself in the head of the prime minister to understand the performance ratings given to Cabinet ministers and ministers of state that have resulted in the reshuffle. Here goes:

Grade A (excellent - performed well enough to become a firefighter): Chris Tufton - seemingly one of few ministers in any administration who clearly grasped the accountability of his portfolio and then strategically set out to deliver on that accountability. In the eyes of the PM, he so transformed Agriculture and Fisheries that the ministry can now operate on cruise control. Dr Tufton is now being asked to apply the same principles at the 'jobs, jobs, jobs'-focused Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce. Among his first duties will be to revisit the still-born National Export Strategy.

Grade B (good - promoted or given additional responsibility): former House Speaker Delroy Chuck, promoted to minister of justice; Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, to be promoted to House speaker; Arthur Williams, promoted to Cabinet minister; Dr Horace Chang, given the added portfolio of environment; Robert Montague, promoted to Cabinet minister; Shahine Robinson, given the added portfolio of Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Grade C (fair - responsibilities remained unchanged): Ministers Vaz, Baugh, Henry, Bartlett, Grange, Charles and Nelson. State Ministers Broderick, Hutchinson, Malahoo Forte, Gallimore, Stern and Parliamentary Secretary Newby. No real problems for any of these, but nothing much to write home about either. Ed Bartlett would have scored an A were he graded as a director of tourism - heavy on marketing but light on policy; suggesting why Mr Lynch has two jobs and casting doubts on the need for a standalone Ministry of Tourism.

Grade D (below par - stripped of some responsibility or provided with additional support): Audley Shaw, stripped of the public service portfolio; Ruddy Spencer, stripped of aspects of environment; Andrew Holness, although full of ideas, has not strategically implemented the Task Force Report on Education Reform and has failed to grasp the fundamental governance issue that schools cannot be run from Heroes Circle. To get better performance in this area, Mr Golding has given him reinforcement with the appointment of Gregory Mair as the new state minister. Hopefully, real transformation in education will no longer remain elusive.

Grade F (failing grade - relieved of responsibility): Karl Samuda promised much but delivered little at Industry, Investment and Commerce. Also receiving failing grades are: Dorothy Lightbourne, a casualty of the Manatt commission; and Everald Warmington for his behaviour - both to the media as well as not toeing the line in Parliament.

Not graded: James Robertson and Ronald Robinson, who both resigned; Clive Mullings, who has been out of the executive for some two years; Aundré Franklin, who gave up his post at Health to become general secretary; and first-timers from the back bench, state ministers St Aubyn Bartlett, Gregory Mair and Othneil Lawrence; as well as Tarn Peralto, earmarked for deputy speaker.

What about the performance of the leader himself? Logically, it must be a composite of all the grades. Averaging 1 A; 5 Bs; 13 Cs; 3 Ds; 3 Fs; and 8 ungraded suggests that the prime minister has given himself a C-!

There you have it. The grading of our political leadership from a viewpoint somewhere in the head of the prime minister. Will this new-look team be able to ramp up performance to deliver the second term for the JLP? Only time will tell.

Robert Wynter is managing director of Strategic Alignment Limited. Feedback welcomed at columns@gleanerjm.com and rob.wyn@hotmail.com.