Pundits declare Golding the political winner of 2024; Holness the loser

 

Two political commentators have named Opposition Leader Mark Golding as the "undeniable winner" in politics for 2024, while they have asserted that his opponent Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is the political loser of that year.

 

Lloyd B. Smith and Damion Gordon have argued that Mark Golding surpassed the expectations of many critics who initially thought he was not fit to lead the People's National Party and by extension, the country.

 

Both men, who were speaking Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106FM, pointed to the PNP's strong showing in last February's local government elections under the leadership of Mark Golding, and noted that he has been consistently receiving positive ratings in opinion polls.

 

Mr. Smith believes Mr. Golding could become the next Prime Minister of Jamaica if he continues to perform well politically. 

 

"I think what he has to do now is to make sure that he maintains the image that he has already developed. The Jamaican people do not...like arrogance. And they don't like a leader who appears as if he is the beginning and end of it all. And so I think what has helped Mark Golding in terms of his persona, for the most part, he comes across as being humble, comes across as a decent family man. And interestingly, so far, he has not had any major baggage," the commentator asserted. 

 

Mr. Smith was a former PNP Member of Parliament for St. James Central. 

 

Meanwhile, political commentator Damion Gordon wants the People's National Party to show that it has better policies to address the issues confronting Jamaicans rather than solely capitalising on the dwindling popularity of the Jamaica Labour Party government. 

 

"The People's National Party should not be the default alternative to the government. It shouldn't be a case where Jamaicans say, 'Well, the government is underperforming. We don't have a choice but the People's National Party.' It needs to separate itself and show that it has ideas that can move the country forward, ideas...that can place Jamaica in a better position socially and economically," he reasoned.