Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Political commentators and the parliamentary Opposition have identified a mixture of success and failures in the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) first 100 days in office.

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, has sharply criticised the Golding administration on its handling of the economy. He argues that, while the increase in oil and other commodity prices is beyond the control of the Government, the depreciation of the local currency under the JLP's watch has "compounded the external problems". Indeed, he believes the instability in the foreign-exchange market provides "perfect cover" for possible price gouging. Furthermore, Davies argues, the "puzzling" hike in domestic interest rates is not caused by external factors.

Role reduction

The former Finance Minister in the Patterson/Simpson Miller administration is concerned about the reduction of the central role of the Finance Ministry in the management of the economy, as evidenced by the transferrence to the Office of the Prime Minister of important departments and functions - the Development Bank of Jamaica, the EX-IM Bank and the Capital Development Fund. Davies also points to the inclusion of several portfolio responsibilities, along with ministers, to the Office of the Prime Minister.

"The Prime Minister cannot carry that weight ... Things are going to get bogged down," warns Davies in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner.

Northern Caribbean University lecturer Charlene Sharpe-Pryce says the Golding administration has done fairly well over the last three months, making some tough, but wise decisions. One such decision is the appointment of the JLP's South East St. Andrew candidate, Joan Gordon-Webley, to head the National Solid Waste Management Authority. Though questionable, the appointment, argues Sharpe-Pryce, has begun to effect necessary changes in the organisation.

"Mr. Golding's ability to sift through the nuances associated with an issue and to make unpopular decisions is commendable," comments the university lecturer.

Prime Minister Golding should also be commended, she believes, for efforts to bring normalcy to the lives of people who suffered damage and displacement due to Hurricane Dean, as well as for making good on his promise to abolish tuition fees in secondary schools.

But Sharpe-Pryce identifies a level of dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister's decision to have members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) dismissed - a decision that appears to be overshadowing his 100-days' tenure.

"The PM's decision to oppose Stephen Vasciannie's appointment as Solicitor General seems contrary - even if the PM thinks he has good reason - to his pronouncements to curtail the executive's power. This, of all his actions to date, merits questioning: flip or flop?" asks Sharpe-Pryce.

Credibility impacted

It is a perspective University of the West Indies lecturer, Richard 'Dickie' Crawford, shares. "This abuse of power has impacted on the role and credibility of the Governor-General, and has forced the Opposition to seek an interim injunction in the Supreme Court (in defence of the PSC members)," notes Crawford.

"My first biggest disappointment," he adds, "is to see Bruce Golding and the JLP, who promised to be new and different, who I had hoped were turning the corner to democracy, openness and putting the people first, doing the same, if not worse, than those who were there before them."

Both analysts, like Davies, also believe useful time is being spent exposing the ills of the previous administration. Sharpe-Pryce opines that this energy could have been better spent seeking solutions to rising food prices and other problems besetting the country.

"Given the Government's desire to increase transparency and accountability and eliminate corruption, this is good; however, all things must be done in moderation," she states.

Furthermore, she notes, the JLP's 100-day administration has been riddled with careless comments from some of its high-ranking members, such as Everald Warmington and Bobby Montague, and even the Prime Minister himself, which, she contends, is making it more difficult for the JLP to sell its vision to the public.

Murder hurting admin

The spiralling murder rate has also muzzled the administration, the analysts say, and while the problem may have been inherited from the last administration, the Government needs to put its energies into appealing to Jamaicans to unite against crime and violence.

"This fight requires the united determination of the Jamaican people to want to make a difference to stop the killing, to clean up the police force, the political parties and those private interests who operate outside of the law, running drugs, laundering money, hiring hitmen, smuggling people and goods, and not paying any taxes," says Crawford. "Perhaps that is what the next 100 days should be all about."

University of Technology lecturer Martin Henry also views crime as a strike against the Golding administration. "I think, especially in this Christmas season, if the Government could do anything practical, however small, t the sense of security, reduce the level of crime - which tends to spike during the Christmas season - this could have a buoyancy effect on public perception of the administration," Henry tells The Sunday Gleaner.

But, for Henry, the "most worrying trend" is the departure of the Prime Minister and members of his government from the conciliatory/collaborative approach which he announced in his victory speech on election night. "We hope that this slippage will not be permanent or get worse," states Henry.

He, like Sharpe-Pryce, is disappointed with the Government's response to rising food prices, particularly its failure to communicate adequately with the Jamaican people, especially those who are able and willing to analyse international affairs as to the reason for the price increase. "The Government has been very inept in communicating the nature of this difficulty and asking for understanding and patience," says Henry.

He identifies the administration's achievements as keeping roads usable after the sustained rains in October and November; the bright prospect for the winter tourist season this is not largely its efforts; attempts to restructure local government; and, refund of tuition fees to parents.

In terms of achievements, Davies also has commends the administration for continuing the implementation of projects such as Highway 2000.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com