After days of silence, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has officially responded (I guess?) to public discourse around possible moves by Jamaica to transition into a republic, seemingly likening it to “empty symbolism”.

Holness, in part of his keynote address at Thursday’s (December 9) opening ceremony of the Ocean Eden Bay Resort in Coral Spring, Trelawny, said that while Queen Elizabeth II sits as head of state, the country should first focus on becoming prosperous.

“The nation is as the nation does, and there are some persons who want to speak prosperity into being, speaking sovereignty and independence into being. My philosophy is that we must do these things into being. You must make them happen. It must not be empty symbolism, it must be genuine. It is what we are in our actions and in our achievements and [in] what we have done,” he argued.

Holness, acknowledging his obscure rhetoric and failing to elaborate further, said that he is “building towards the aspiration”.

“Having said what I have said in very vague terms, I’m certain those who have ears will understand them until it is time to have that full and direct discourse. That process has started,” Holness added.

Let’s just check… How many days have we gone without Jamaican leaders not embarrassing themselves and us by extension?

Zero. So we’re back to square one.

I get it, but can I just say that this doesn’t surprise me?

After all, as the most recent appointee to the Privy Council, a pro-republic stance from you, Mr Holness, would surely be complicated, to say the least.

As the headline sort of suggests, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Government leader of Jamaica for the last five years, is very au fait with “empty symbolism”.

How else would he go to a global climate change summit, commit to ending deforestation by 2030 and then turn a blind eye as the “economy” razes more acres of forest in the name of tourism, mining and development?

How else would he, as Opposition Leader, pledge to eradicate corruption in Government just for it to now appear to be even worse than before? The country is averaging a misappropriation scandal once a week, which is utter madness.

How else would he beam about Caribbean unity and then turn around and accept an invitation from former US President Donald Trump for a “CARICOM summit” without then-CARICOM Chair Mia Mottley?

By the way, whatever happened to those fruitful “leadership discussions”?

How else would Jamaica be under perpetual states of public emergency (SOEs) for nearly three years and murders remained high? Mind you, the country is actively fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with curfews and other restrictions.

Well over 19 months into the pandemic, however, and Jamaica has recorded 2,416 COVID-related deaths—far greater than the 1,300+ murders since December 4, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)—but don’t let that figure shock you.

Jamaica, a democracy, has the second-worst murder rate on the planet behind El Salvador.

It is a war zone without the title.

Perhaps the greatest “empty symbolism” is Jamaica’s brilliant global PR strategy, which sees the island consistently ranking as a place to travel and a dream getaway but underneath its soft ‘Yeah Mon’ vibe, is a land scarred by years of pretty lies, unfulfilled promises and mismanagement.

I really wish Jamaica’s leaders would stop trying to size up to Barbados: You can’t compete when you don’t compare.

For all its issues, and I’m sure the Bajan public can list many, the Mia Mottley administration demonstrated a new way of leadership—one that seeks to forge a new future by severing that which reminded its people of much struggle and suffering.

Make no mistake, this is cognitive dissonance of the highest order and I’m embarrassed to have heard it coming from a sitting prime minister, worse still, the prime minister of Jamaica—which birthed the likes of Marcus Garvey and Sam Sharpe.

I’m also VERY curious to know if this is the chutzpah used to reply to PJ Patterson’s joint letter addressed to both you and Opposition Leader Mark Golding last Thursday.

Is becoming prosperous the way Jamaica will usher its 60th Independence celebrations, some eight months from now?

For a man who prides himself on building back this nation stronger, you sure pick the worst hills to die on, Mr Holness.