Gareth Manning, Staff reporter

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and Dr Omar Davies in a pensive mood as Parliament meets at Gordon House earlier this year. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

THOUGH DRENCHED by scandals and bitter internal conflicts, the People's National Party's (PNP) first year in opposition has not been entirely disastrous, commentators say.

It is the party's first time in opposition in 18 years after it was narrowly defeated in the September 3, 2007, general election by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which took 31 of the 60 seats in Gordon House, to the PNP's 29. That was eventually adjusted to 32:28 in favour of the JLP, following a series of battles after the official results were announced. It has been the tightest national election since Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944.

But, despite its strong presence in the House, political commentator Richard Crawford says the PNP has only lived up to half its potential as an effective opposition.

Crawford is a member of the appraisal team that criticised the leadership of Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, and blamed party disunity for the PNP's loss at the polls.

unaccustomed roles

"After losing the election last year, the PNP, for the first time in 18 years, became the opposition party, a role which they appear unaccustomed to, as much as the JLP seems to be unaccustomed to being the governing party," Crawford says.

According to Crawford, the PNP has failed to show leadership on a number of critical issues, including crime, even as it turned the country on its head in the months of May and June, forcing the recently appointed police commissioner to temporarily jump ship.

Similarly, he says, they have been weak on matters concerning the economy.

"PNP activity and monitoring of the economy is poor. The country was really made aware of potential economic pitfalls by commentators outside the Parliament.

"The JLP seems to present glowing one-sided presentations on economic issues, but worse than that, the PNP seems to be fast asleep while all this is happening and the country is drifting into further economic stagnation," he adds.

It is a view Martin Henry shares. To him, the PNP's squealing about the poor has been without substance.

"The PNP's first year as an opposition hasn't been a disaster, but the country is yet to feel the substantial parliamentary strength of the Opposition," he opines.

Henry acknowledges that the Opposition has failed somewhat to be the Government's "nightmare". It has not been vociferous on the failure of the Government to keep certain campaign promises.

"Price increases is an area that the Opposition knows is driven largely by external circumstances, and it has really not offered any credible alternatives," he says.

Giving the Opposition a passing grade, former PNP Member of Parliament Francis Tulloch thinks the party, and particularly party president Portia Simspon Miller, has been effectively defending the poor.

"She is the only voice in Jamaica now speaking for the poor. She could be the stabilising force in the country at the present time because things are very rough for the poor," says Tulloch.

scandals and internal squabbles

He adds that despite the 'perceived' scandals and internal squabbles, the PNP and its leader have performed creditably as an opposition.

"You have to weigh their performance in light of the fact that they got some negative press, in particular, the leader of the Opposition, over the perceived scandals," reasons Tulloch. "The Government, on the other hand, has got very positive press, particularly the prime minister."

Simpson Miller, he says, has managed to stay in striking distance in the popularity polls and the party itself is seen as the better of the two to lead the country if elections were to be held now.

The last Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll in June showed the PNP leading the JLP by a six per cent margin as the party best suited to run the country. The same polls showed Simpson Miller rebounding from a staggering 39 per cent popularity rating just before the elections, to 52 per cent, though she still fell nine percentage points behind Prime Minister Bruce Golding as the person most suitable to lead the country.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com