EDITORIAL - He who will lead the JLP

Whoever succeeds Bruce Golding as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will assume office at a difficult time. But should he grasp it, the new leader will have a great opportunity to define the JLP as a party of competence, capable of transforming Jamaica into a country of economic growth and decent government.

Mr Golding has proved in office that he possesses a keen, analytic mind and a clear understanding of Jamaica's problems. He has articulated these with great clarity. He will serve Jamaica well in other capacities. We wish him well.

It is time, however, to look to the future against the backdrop of the failure of Jamaican governments up to now - global economic difficulties, notwithstanding - to produce policies and programmes that deliver economic growth or jobs at a level to satisfy the minimum requirements of the country. That must be the focus of the new leader.

Young successors

As it now stands, there are two clear front-runners for Mr Golding's jobs, Mr Andrew Holness, the education minister, and Mr Christopher Tufton, who now holds the industry, investment and commerce portfolio. Mr Audley Shaw, the finance minister, is also considered a potential contender.

Internal party contests can be messy and hurtful affairs. They often leave deep wounds that are difficult to heal. The effect is bad enough when parties are in opposition. They tend to be particularly problematic when they are in government and have all the responsibilities that attend the state.

In the current case, the timing is particularly delicate, given Jamaica's sensitive negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to shore up its standby facility as fears of a renewed global recession pose threats to Jamaica's sputtering economic recovery. All this is complicated by the fact that the next general election is constitutionally due in roughly a year's time.

Mr Golding, therefore, has the job of delicately and deftly managing the transition in order to limit the fallout and prevent a meandering, if not halt, to the affairs of government for the next year, or more. This, however, does not mean that we expect a sterile contest, based on back-room accommodations and private deals. Indeed, robust debate of the issues is necessary.

'Relative' youth

In the context of the foregoing, the JLP contest has the advantage of the relative youth of the main contenders, at a time when there is hope for political renewal in Jamaica. Mr Holness or Mr Tufton - who are 39 and 43, respectively - at the helm of the JLP would be an interesting contrast to the mostly ageing front bench of the People's National Party, including its leader, Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, who turns 66 in December.

Youth, however, is not the sole criterion for electing either a party leader or prime minister. Those who offer themselves for these positions must outline not only a vision, but practical and credible strategies for enonomic growth, job creation and for dealing with the country's debilitating problem of debt.

Equally, they must demonstrate an ability to convert ideas into effective action and prove that they are not in the control of narrow interests. Indeed, the new leader of the JLP must commit to the urgent passage of campaign-finance legislation as part of transparent efforts to end the corrupt practices that attend Jamaican politics, but which the country can no longer afford.