Linton Gordon
The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller is one of the most successful politicians Jamaica has produced. Her success has been recognized not only nationally but internationally also. Indeed, in 2012 Time Magazine which is distributed in just about every country and every language, ranked Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller as being amongst its 100 most influential persons in the world. That is some recognition that we should all join Mrs Simpson Miller in celebrating.
“Portia” as we call her affectionately or “Sista P” and “Mama P” has been a member of parliament since 1976, that is to say, for forty (40) years now. That again is an outstanding achievement, as only few others can claim such longevity in our Parliament.
Portia has served in a number of ministries and there is no doubt that she has been successful and has been an outstanding achiever in all the ministries she has served. She served in the Ministry of Labour and she will be remembered for the calm and conciliatory approach she took towards employer and employee relations and industrial disputes during her stint in this ministry. In consequence of her approach there was a lessening of industrial disputes during her time in the Ministry. She made effort, too, to use the legislative process for the benefit of workers, especially women and domestic workers.Sista P also served as minister of sports and it was during this time that a very successful athletic programme was brought to maturity at the University of Technology. We now have outstanding athletes dominating the world scene who are products of that programme to which Sista P contributed so much.She also served at the Ministry of Tourism and it was during this time that the idea of the Falmouth Pier was placed on the agenda. In fact, I would not be surprised if the Falmouth Pier is being looked at to be named after Sista P.
Then we are all aware of the pride with which Sista P went about continuing the development of a modern highway network for the country. The North-South leg of Highway 2000 from Ferry to Mammee Bay is also a project that the authorities should look at, to be named after Mrs Simpson Miller. Sista P also served as the first female prime minister of Jamaica and in fact occupied the Office of Prime Minister on two (2) occasions.
Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller is now 71 years old and should the JLP serve its full term of five (5) years Sista P will be 76 years old at the next General Election. Why at 76 years old would Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller desire to take on the awesome responsibility of prime minister of Jamaica is a puzzle to a number of us.
Jamaica is a difficult country to manage. It has serious challenges with a high crime rate, indiscipline at various levels, corruption and an economy that just will not grow, despite a multiplicity of promises by a multiplicity of politicians.
Mrs. Simpson Miller has made her contribution to the country. She should accept this and move on. She should have resigned immediately after the results of the last election in which her party lost the seat of Government. She should not wait until she is pressured to resign. She should now resign and give the party an opportunity to select a new leader and to prepare itself for future elections under new leadership. There is no one on earth who is indispensable. This Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller must accept.
The call for Mrs. Simpson Miller to resign should be seen by her not as an act of betrayal against her or an accusation of failure. Instead she should see this as an acknowledgment of her outstanding contribution and an acceptance that she would now be allowed to enjoy a period of retirement in peace, quiet and pleasantness. Take the advice Sista P. It is the way to go.
Attorney-At-Law
