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Wild promises beat failed performance
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Sunday | August 12, 2007
Kevin O'brien Chang, Contributor
The equation was simple. Audley 'man a yard' Shaw had to explain a JLP manifesto that many contend is filled with wild, irresponsible promises. Omar 'straight shooter' Davies had to defend what is often called a failed performance of record debt burdens and less than one per cent a year growth since 1993.
The betting was that Dr. Davies' usual crisp command of the facts would grind the likeable but some say lightweight Shaw into submission. But it was Audley's show from start to finish. He opened with a confident broadside and never let up, displaying both passion and a convincing grasp of figures and policies. Omar was uncharacteristically hesitant throughout.
Rambling response
With the exception of Garfield Burford, the question panel did a poor job. Arguably, the sound bite of the night was the end of Dr. Davies' rambling response to the question of high joblessness among the young: "They can create their own employment." A young lady I know was livid at this answer.
"Him lose my vote and every young person in Jamaica who can't get a job!"
Then Shaw accused Dr. Davies of abrogating his responsibility by allowing scandals and overruns like Netserv, the North Coast Highway, Sandals Whitehouse, the Universal Access Fund and Solutrea to take place unchecked on his watch. Shamefully, Dr. Davies ducked the question completely. When Dr. Davies called his 'run-with-it speech' "unfortunate", and Mr. Shaw came back with "The consequences of your unfortunate behaviour was a record $14.5 billion dollar tax package on the Jamaican people's back!", the contest was all but over.
Ending education cost
Dr. Davies then challenged Shaw to defend the JLP's 'wild promises' on free health and education. Mr. Shaw argued that the JLP's only short-term promises were ending education cost sharing and health fees, which would together cost a not exorbitant $2.5 billion, and that in any event, the JLP would create jobs and a high growth rate. It wasn't totally convincing but sounded perhaps plausible, which is what counts in politics.
But Shaw again scored big with: "I personally heard Eddie Seaga tell you if you dealt with the FINSAC problem right away it would cost $20 billion, but you waited too long and it ended up costing us $120 billion."
Shaw talked the language of the common man, closing with a grandstanding promise of hope for the Jamaican people under a new Labour government. Dr. Davies spoke as if addressing a room of bankers, and ended as he began: in a confusing tangle of numbers. Audley's best-ever performance deserved an 8.5 out of 10. I've seen Omar do far better, but tonight he only earned a 6.0.
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