JAMAICA'S MOST regularly re-run headline is surely, 'Murder count soars'. With the murder total poised to top 1,500 this year, it's hard to believe now that 'only' 423 Jamaicans were murdered in 1989. That's a mind-boggling 350 per cent increase in 15 years.

THE PNP came to power in early 1989, only a few months after Hurricane Gilbert hit the island. With the PNP conference being held in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, let's try and evaluate our situation then and now.

A pioneer in Jamaican anthropology; a driving force behind the local and international popularization of ska and reggae; an originator of Festival; arguably our best finance minister; the prime minister with the third longest term in office; the longest serving parliamentarian - no one has influenced independent Jamaica in so many ways as Edward Seaga.

Maybe it’s his supercilious smirk. Or his arrogant mumbling. Or his cynical opportunism. Whatever the reason I find it hard to admire George W. Bush. His reckless adventuring abroad and his irresponsible overspending at home are in my view seriously damaging his country’s long term interests. When America sneezes most of the world catches a cold, and highly economically dependent countries like Jamaica get pneumonia. So the man is just plain bad news all around.

BEING VERY young at the time my memories of the 1972 election are hazy, but I do recall nearly all of us at school shouting 'power' at passing motorcades. This wasn't only because of any specific PNP policies ­ about the only campaign issue that penetrated our immature brains was 'Joshua's rod of correction'. But having known only a JLP government I guess our unformed minds assumed any change must be for the better, and most first-time voters then probably thought the same way.

“The dinner of understanding”

Once there was a party which lost 4 straight general elections and was out of power for 18 years. A new leader had to be chosen and the two front runners were A and B. The government was disliked and if the party chose the more popular A it would likely win the next election, though it might also win under B. But voters would see an open fight between A and B as a sign of continuing disunity and might then re-elect the government. So A and B had a dinner meeting. A said that if B stepped aside and the party won he would put B in charge of the economy and then retire after a certain period so that B could get his chance to be leader. B agreed – half a loaf and a promise of a full one later was better than all of nothing. So A became leader and in the next election the party won a massive victory.

THE SUNNY Jamaican countryside dispels thoughts of crime and debt. In such bright moods I accept that our official figures cannot reflect reality and that this country is an exception to all rules. In most places economic stagnation and rising violence breed unrest. But over 10 years of negligible GDP growth, a decimated dollar and a soaring murder rate have been accompanied here not by angry mass protests but a car, cellular and building boom. Nor does this, in theory, broke and crime-ridden country seem to lack for nightlife, with partygoers ramming Negril and Ocho Rios every long weekend.

“Jamaica in Crisis” read a conference banner in Mandeville last month. “A Sick Democracy” was one pundit’s verdict on the local government elections. And “A ruined country” is the constant theme of some radio talk shows.

"Jamaicans are so ignorant and uneducated they will vote for anyone who gives them a handout. So our leaders and the entire political system are completely corrupt. Democracy can never work in a country like this."