EDITORIAL - Make it a JLP partnership

If the endorsements by fellow parliamentarians and other senior party officials provide a credible signal intent, Andrew Holness has an unbeatable position among the 5,000 Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) delegates who will elect the party's new leader, who will also assume the position of prime minister of Jamaica.

And as is demonstrated elsewhere in this newspaper, far more Jamaicans generally believe that Mr Holness, rather than anyone else in his party, is the man for the job. Forty-three per cent of adult Jamaicans, according to our just-completed national poll, opted for Mr Holness. His nearest rivals are Dr Christopher Tufton, with nine per cent, and Audley Shaw, four per cent.

In the context of these numbers, and the imperatives of democracy notwithstanding, it seems to us pointless that there should be an electoral contest to find a successor to Mr Bruce Golding, who announced 10 days ago that he would not offer himself for re-election at the JLP's annual conference next month and would leave as head of government once the new party leader is in place.

Avoid distractions

A significant part of the reason for Mr Golding's decision was a recognition that he had become an electoral liability to his party over his handling of the Christopher Coke extradition affair. Moreover, he has been unable, over six years of party leadership, to fully impose his authority over the notoriously fractious bunch that comprises the JLP.

Indeed, the same cleavages would be exposed in the event of a contest for the leadership as each aspirant attempts to score points against the other and make a case why he or she is the best person for the job. Such expression of the democratic process is not an approach that this newspaper would, generally, be against. Except that, in this case, there are other considerations.

First is the fact of Mr Holness' almost unassailable lead in the JLP, and among Jamaicans broadly. Second, and critically, the JLP forms the Government at a time when the country faces serious challenges that demand urgent and focused attention, including completing the rescue of Jamaica's derailed agreement with the International Monetary Fund and implementing policies that will generate economic growth and create jobs. These demands would be impatient of a leader distracted by his efforts at healing his party.

Collaboration is key

At the same time, this newspaper recognises that all the skills required to unify the JLP with good electoral prospects, while effectively leading the country, do not necessarily reside in one person. Rather, good governance is the result of the effective conglomeration of skills and effective oversight.

The youthful Mr Holness, 39, may, on his own, possess many of these qualities, including the fresh thinking and absence of political baggage, which Mr Golding said are necessary for a 21st-century leader. Mr Tufton, 43, has proven himself a good technocratic operator, with the kind of vision that could complement Mr Holness. Audley Shaw, the 59-year-old finance minister, has been credited with a decent performance in stabilising the economy and is seen in the party as a good campaigner.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing, it would seem to us that it would be in the interest of the JLP and Jamaica if the key prospects could elaborate a partnership that combines their skills and spares the country the excesses of a campaign.