Waiting to Lead Our Country

I had a further thought about Portia Simpson-Miller's leadership that did not come through in my prior post on the topic.

Here it is, some twenty-thirty years that Portia has been a politician.

She ran for the leadership of the PNP back in 1991, and lost to PJ Patterson, who was immediately named Prime Minister to replace Michael Manley.

From 1991 until 2006 she was waiting in the wings, and after a bitter fight, she won the leadership over an MD and 2 PhD's -- having "only" a Bachelor's degree (according to some in her own party.)

So, she has been waiting years for this opportunity to lead. Preparing. Studying. Strategizing. Visioning.

She finally gets the position and, with a level of personal popularity not seen in our politics in thirty years, she is the choice of her party, the people of Jamaica, and even the Opposition, I daresay.

And in the past year she has done... what, now?

This is perplexing. In the 13 months she has been Prime Minister I can't say what she stands for, or intends to do, or is willing to take risks to accomplish.

I might just be repeating myself, but it is all perplexing, given the number of problems that we face.

P.S. France recently elected a new President and it is quite clear from the little I have read what his agenda is, what he is going to do, and the laws he intends to change -- "more work for more pay." We Jamaicans deserve our leadership to be that focused and clear about what they intend to do.