Caribbean & Central America - January 2017 (ISSN 1741-4458)

*** BUNTING PULLS OUT OF JAMAICA’S PNP LEADERSHIP RACE. The decision by former Jamaican prime minister Portia Simpson Miller (2006-2007; 2012-2016) to step down later this year from the leadership of the People’s National Party (PNP) has given the party a headache. As political commentator Martin Henry put it in comments to the Jamaica Observer: “She’s far and away one of the most popular politicians that Jamaica has ever produced, in the same sort of league as Michael Manley. She has tremendous grass roots support among PNP supporters.”

Portia Simpson’s enduring popularity was reflected in the many angry denunciations of potential leadership candidates. Now former National Security Minister Peter Bunting (2012-2016) has withdrawn his candidacy, but on the grounds that there appears to be overwhelming support for Dr Peter Phillips to succeed Simpson Miller. Phillips came second in the 2006 leadership contest to succeed PJ Patterson, in whose government he had served as Minister of National Security. He later served in the Portia Simpson administration as Minister of Finance and Planning.

Announcing his decision not to stand, Bunting said: “Since the last NEC [national executive council] meeting where the Most Hon Portia Simpson Miller signalled her intention to retire as Party Leader, I have thrown my hat in the ring as an aspirant to succeed her. I did this with the conviction that it was time for the next generation of leadership to refresh the image of the Party and help to attract a broader base of support, particularly among younger voters...In the ensuing period, I have held a series of consultations with the Parliamentary and local government leadership, and have concluded that a large majority feels that ‘it is Comrade Peter Phillips’ turn’...Therefore, I will not be going forward in this contest.

Although neither youthful nor charismatic, the 67-year-old Dr Phillips won considerable respect for his handling of the Jamaican economy under the watchful eye of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). And a recent online poll for the Jamaica Observer confirmed that Phillips is favoured not just by the party but by the public as well – although not by any overwhelming margin. The poll gave 31.01% support to Phillips, 28.87% to Lisa Hanna, (MP for Saint Ann South East) and 28.73% to Bunting.

*** NEW ANTI-CRIME MEASURES FOR JAMAICA. On 3 January, Jamaica’s National Security Minister Robert Montague announced a series of new security measures for 2017. Amongst other things, Montague announced the imminent arrival of two naval ships from the Netherlands for the Jamaica Coast Guard and a new surveillance plane to “provide additional protection and security to Jamaica’s borders to prevent the trafficking of illegal guns and ammunition”. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is also to receive 200 additional vehicles. In relation to the new Firearm Act, Montague said: “The Firearm Act is special to me. The message must be clearly sent that when you take up a gun, you are going to spend a long time behind bars.”

*** IMF REVIEW OF GRENADA. In December, the IMF completed a review of Grenada’s performance under a programme supported by a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) approved in June 2014. The IMF reported that the government had met all performance criteria for end-June 2016 and “most structural benchmarks” for the Fifth Review. In particular, it noted that Grenada’s debt-to-GDP ratio has declined to 84.3% at end-June from 107% in 2013. It added that “the prospects for debt sustainability and durable growth are improving”. GDP growth for 2016 and 2017 is projected to be about 3.0%, “reflecting strong construction activity and steady external demand for Grenada’s tourism services”.