EDITORIAL - Act with clarity, Mr Holness

Mr Andrew Holness, the opposition leader, must ensure that when he publicly enunciates policy he can count on the support of his party and that his senior members are clear on what he proposes.

Indeed, he should insist that his shadow Cabinet listen when he delivers major speeches, or that they read the text and digest his remarks.

Mr Holness, at all costs, should avoid being publicly second-guessed by frontbenchers, or subsequently waffle about previous pronouncements. When this happens, it does not inspire confidence in his leadership, or the ability of his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to form the government.

That is the danger we see by the response of Mr Holness, and others in his party, to the recent announcement by the attorney general, Mr Patrick Atkinson, that the Government is considering legislation to limit the ability of the contractor general to monitor the pre-contractual phase of strategic investment projects.

During the Budget Debate, Mr Holness declared the right to "approve strategic investments" within the context of declared and transparent objectives agreed to by Parliament. Approval for such investments would be fast-tracked.

Said Mr Holness: "... After the process is concluded and the investment is either accepted or rejected, the contractor general would have the right to review the process and take action or recommend action for prosecution if a breach were detected. In this, a strategic opportunity is held, but the persons doing the approval still face the force of the law."

Mr Atkinson, broadly, offered the same strategy, although the legislation to give effect to the scheme is embryonic.

But Holness is not "certain how the proposed amendments contribute to making the investment regulatory environment clearer".

We would understand if, like us, Mr Holness wants to see the specifics of the proposed amendments. But in texture and tone, Mr Holness seems fearful of now committing to an idea that he previously placed on the table.

Perhaps he is being influenced by some opposition to the proposal now that it has been formally adopted by the Government and the claim by his shadow justice minister, Delroy Chuck, that the JLP would not countenance any weakening of the powers of the contractor general.

Mr Chuck, incidentally, was in Parliament when Mr Holness spoke during the Budget Debate.

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