Mark Wignall | Still giving Dr Holness a chance

Some politicians attain the status of ‘sacred cow’ for the majority of their lives. Michael Manley was one such human being. It helps to be good-looking.

It first manifests itself by many women falling for them. Then the nation follows. But the power of the intellect has to be in place. Others, like Dr Holness, ‘borrow’ the term because such politicians come with a promise. Whether the PM knows it or not, much is riding on what we believe he will do in transforming Jamaica in the post-Hurricane Melissa period.

So the expectation is huge. Monster Melissa struck Jamaica with a horrible fury in late October 2025. Western Jamaica was obliterated. Thousands of Jamaicans, including children, were severely traumatised. Those children and their families cowered in fear as Melissa destroyed lives, houses, hospitals, schools, police stations, post offices, and any structure in her path.

This cannot be repeated too often. Normality for thousands of children was eviscerated by Monster Melissa. The Gleaner reported recently that several schools that were damaged by Melissa in western Jamaica had not been repaired in time for the new school term, which began in early September. Students at some schools in western Jamaica had to conduct classes outside as the classrooms were not ready for use.

The PM of Jamaica opined that his favourite time when he was at school was when he was outside the classroom. Come on, PM, which six- or seven-year-old would fail to love being outside the classroom for half a day? The prime minister cannot afford to make it appear that he is expressing no real concern.

There were questions raised and pushback about the PM’s statement. Instead of being a true leader and accepting that his comment/opinion was wrong, his ego would not concede his misconceived babble and, soon after, he ‘supported’ his opinion of outside learning, citing some study or studies which show it is beneficial for students to learn/have classes outside. What the PM failed to share was if the study or studies he was citing were done after a major hurricane had destroyed the students’ homes, traumatised them, and completely upended their lives.

Again, the need for repetition. The children of western Jamaica have been severely, yes, severely traumatised by Hurricane Melissa. Their homes were obliterated. Their families’ possessions were destroyed, their parents were traumatised and overwhelmed. Their “normal” life is gone.

Attending school was an important part of their normal life before Hurricane Melissa. For the PM of Jamaica to opine that learning outside is good is misconceived, groundless, tone-deaf and arrogant.

A real leader would have said he was sorry all the schools were not repaired and ready for the students. A real leader would have said he will increase the efforts being made at repairs. A real leader would have accepted that the government’s response to school repairs was not good enough. A real leader would have accepted responsibility.

I will bet you that by now the PM recognises that he has displayed a lack of character and, once again, briefly hid his face.

AN OPPOSITION COMING IN FROM THE COLD

Opposition Leader Mark Golding and his motley crew of politicians ‘tried a thing’ by keeping a part of their annual conference outside of the usual venue, the National Arena. Listening to those who spoke, there was hardly any difference in how they saw education (from early childhood onwards) as it needed to be addressed in Jamaica. PNP or JLP, there was hardly any difference.

Nothing is as frustrating as a youngster exiting the primary system, entering high school at grade seven, remaining in those grades, fooling his parents and making an ass of his teachers as he floats through, picking up little and not even gaining anything from the industrial arts.

You cannot just pitch him out on to the streets and hope for the best between him and the police. That situation has no good ending. He is likely to end up in one of those new prisons proposed. The PNP and the JLP have too much in common not to make it work.

The PNP president does not have any of the physical attributes of a Michael Manley or the swag of Andrew Holness. But we are into quite serious business here. It’s the education of the next generation. And, who knows, maybe if Golding has a far superior, workable plan, it could catapult him into the power he so badly needs.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com