Caribbean News Now!

By Mario Boothe

While the actual Oscars was borderline boring and its content overly exaggerated as the entirety of the night came to end way past my bedtime, with me having nothing but a memory of a falling actress to remember the capitalism on ecstasy event by, there has been a certain cloud of anarchy lingering over the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as the battle over the economy, IMF and NHT legal mess continues with the opportunity for a rising star to a emerge among the grumpy old men (not the GOP), who have become somewhat lethargic in their opposing duties, seemingly being dragged along by their wrinkles by the energetic and still ‘youth-phoric’ leader Andrew Holness .

Mario Boothe is a young aspiring political analyst, with a growing blog readership. He has been involved in the Jamaican political environment with his involvement in political organizations and groups. He has obtained an associate’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, majoring in travel and tourism.

We can only hope that an Oscar-esque fall will occur, while these ancient gladiators parade gallantly with their oversized egos and their waist sizes larger than the Jamaican debt to GDP ratio.

These titans of rhetoric are no doubt trying to make wiggle room for their individual move to the top of the pyramid, where the true prize is only an election and victory away but still the prime ministership eludes them. This drive to obtain power appears rooted within the framework of the JLP, not mentioning its pro-capitalist ideals, which essentially means survival of the richest and the fittest (wink-wink) but the establishment of a partition among its membership and ranks, whereas an organization runs smoother with free flow with some elevated status for “higher tier”. The JLP’s mantra seems to be “rich and powerful insiders to the front – poor and grassroots to the back”, creating a vacuum between created reality and actual reality.

All Together Now or Not

The Jamaica Labour Party, although operating as a single unit under the pretence of “constructive opposition” to regain power, has ‘rung the bell’ to begin the popularity contest among its front runners, with press conferences to rebut the government at every turn, it may be that “our voices must be heard” will eventually become “my voice must be heard louder” as each spokesman within his respective shadow portfolio, possibly acting under commands to adamantly provide counters and disapprove of any government, will no doubt be seeking his/her fame, with controversial statements being used tirelessly.

Mike Henry stood out, the former transport and work minister now cast into the deep abyss by his party leader has begun his move away from the JLP, walking the outskirts of his beloved party in an almost independent, centrist move – up the ladder to match Andrew Holness wits for wits, giving one of the media houses impromptu interviews, where he pokes holes in Holness’s leadership and gives an almost Tea Party like response to his own party’s criticism of the government.

Although many have begun chanting for his challenge of the leadership, the senior politician, graced by his years of experience and seen as a nation builder of a parliamentarian, would find a hard task towards his ultimate goal in a time of rebellious ageism among the post-independence population. Given that he was the one (or anyone delegates chose) facing PM Simpson-Miller in the last general election, the result may have been different. Cannot be sure about the economic policy but his support would cross party lines.

Remember the Little People

The Oscar will eventually go to the Labourite who finds himself (where are the JLP women) in rejecting the premise that the only way to mend people’s lives is to fix the economy only, but sees that the push towards an economy-driven society only creates wider canyons between the haves and the have not, that we must have balance in all areas and not fall prey to private enterprise but to continue to provide for our people to give them quality of life till they have created their own wealth.

It may be a bit socialist but it’s a winning philosophy, ask PM Simpson-Miller – she has her December 29, 2011, Oscar to prove it.

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