Mark Wignall | What is the prime minister’s tonic?

I want you to go somewhere with me. Step into the life of being Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness for one week. In the course of that week, magically gain a concentrated burst of all of the policy headaches and controversies of the last year. Put aside the high ratings of the previous years when COVID-19 management gave him an early taste of a second term.

I will then bet you that before the week is out, you would be screaming and pleading to be let go of this bitter contract carrying all of the daily tortures besetting your every moment. At present, it is obvious that Mr Holness has his hands full. He must know that a significant percentage of our people believe that he really has done his best and that that is as far as he can go.

A few questions. How much of that ego and drive liberally distributed throughout the body of one Andrew Holness is still with him? Using that as a springboard, what else was it driving the PM that provided him his ‘high’, his tonic to push him on a daily basis while blotting out the many negatives?

Jamaica is easily headed to the thousand-plus homicides for 2023, and if that holds, it will be seen as a significant improvement over 2022. But surely, the PM knows that all it takes is another money-transport vehicle detail to be violently pounced on to shake the psyche of our people. If murders go down by a third, will the PM be able to make the case that our nation is one-third safer?

Armed and seemingly well-coordinated attacks on Beryllium trucks have sent the obvious message to our people that the gunmen are unafraid of us, the police, and more words from the security minister. I do not have an easy answer to solve that troubling riddle, but the guards and the security companies must start to send a message of their own.

They have to go on the offensive. Heavily so. In the United States, where mass killings are rampant, the private security industry has grown significantly.

There are roughly twice as many security guards employed in the US than there were 20 years ago, according to the Security Industry Association. Over that time, the population has only grown by 16 per cent. Coupled with attrition in police jurisdictions across almost all states, it should come as no surprise that the ratio of private security guards to police personnel in the US has increased.

Should I magically find myself a young man again in his 20s seeking fun, adventure, and the other obvious perks that wearing a uniform brings I would seek a job with Beryllium. But only if I was getting a minimum of $150,000 per week tax free and automatic life insurance of $50 million. In Jamaica, of course my social value will never allow me, a commoner, to place such a premium on my life.

CABINET RESHUFFLES ARE POLITICAL

A long-time reader of my column was intrigued by whispers of a Cabinet reshuffle. “Yes, I have heard talks of it,” I told him. According to him, “In my view, a Cabinet reshuffle is serious. It means the PM does not believe his Cabinet is performing. That being the case, the reshuffle should be decisive and swift. In this case the PM seems to be dawdling. He seems to be taking his time.

“If ministers and Cabinet members are not performing, that is not the time to dawdle. Get replacements and make the changes. That is leadership. Moreover, the public will take notice that as a leader, you are able to make the tough, difficult decisions, including replacing non-performing Cabinet ministers. I suspect because there are so many intricate relationships and alliances between the PM and his ministers, he is having a hard time making the changes and convincing those he wants to replace they need to go.”

PM Holness is significantly younger than many of his Cabinet members. In terms of political seniority, he may find that some of the oldsters may have sufficiently strong political clout to render them untouchable in terms of dislodging them. “He knows the seat warmers, but at this time when his political star is fading, the risks facing him in that exercise are many,” I told him.

“If there was some way he could do this and secure a guarantee that it would build back his political strength then he would do it. But there are risks,” I said.

“Mark, being a Cabinet member is a sweet deal. Some living at the people’s expense and not working very hard. In all this, I wonder, is the PM considering what is best for Jamaica and the people of Jamaica, or is he only considering the political effects, friendships, strategic alliances, and business between Cabinet members? In my view, the fact that the whispers got to the press (Gleaner), and there still has been no announcement, is a bad look.”

WARMINGTON NEEDS RELIGION

Some of our entertainers seek religion and make a big announcement of the ‘anointing’, especially if they do not wish it to be seen as purely an adjustment to their business strategy.

“I see that Mr Warmington is at it again.’ said another reader. He took offence that Mr Colin Bell wanted to be on the tour with him and Mrs Vaz in the Fellowship division of East Portland. Warmington, according to The Gleaner, objected to Bell’s presence because he (Warmington) only tours with MPs or elected members. So he ridiculed himself, got Mr Bell a lot of free press, and showed how highly foolish he is. Mr Warmington would be an ideal running mate for Donald Trump. Arrogant and lacking in empathy.”

Mr Warmington is one of the untouchables in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Cabinet. Plus his coarse behaviour is admired by many in the JLP. “The prime minister would never touch him,’ said a JLP minister to me recently. And he knows that he has the freedom to say and do just about anything. He is quite comfortable being crass and often says what we are afraid to say.”

- Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.