Politics is a dirty game, and ugly traits come quickly to the surface when looking to vanquish enemies.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding is a decent man, and misogyny and animosity toward dark-skinned women is not something you can associate with him.
For years, he has been a champion of former PNP leader and popular Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and extols her virtues every opportunity he gets.
Marlon Morgan is a relative “youngling” when it comes to politics. He’s like that dog at the neighbour’s gate barking inanely at everyone that goes by, rather than knowing when and how to go into defensive posture.
Mark Golding called into question Kedesha Campbell Rochester’s fitness to be appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Transport. Golding went on to explain that, given her closeness and work with companies connected to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, he had his reservations.
Fair enough.
Kedesha is a capable executive and has proved herself.
Rather than countering Golding by bringing attention to Kedesha’s accomplishments and qualifications, Morgan decided to play the race card and was out of line. Not being sufficiently melanated in the eyes of some Labourites has been weaponised against Golding. Juliet Cutrhbert Flyn also did it.
Golding conducts himself with decorum, and there are no flies on him. The only way to hurt him and diminish him in the eyes of Jamaicans is to point to his colour.
“Are you a real Jamaican?”
But he is. Colour does not disqualify one from being Jamaican and Morgan should have grasped that by now.
Morgan boldly declared, “I have witnessed first-hand the contempt and condescension Mark Golding metes out to Finance Minister Fayval Williams in the Parliament. His defiance and disregard for the Speaker of the House, Juliet Holness, is a matter of public record.
“It stands to reason that Opposition Leader Mark Golding is not particularly fond of strong, ambitious, qualified and competent black women assuming positions of leadership in our society.”
Morgan here demonstrates his political naivety and his shortsightedness. Using Golding’s pigmentation is just tired and demonstrates a lack of imagination on Morgan’s part. He’s too big to ride that pony.
Golding has been married for years and has two daughters. He cherishes his family and, on many occasions, credits his wife for what she brings to their partnership. His daughters are well-mannered and accomplished. He works with very bright women in the PNP – Angela Brown Burke, Donna Scott Mottley, Nekeisha Burchell, Zuleika Jess, Dennise Daley, Natalie Neita-Garvey, Kisha Anderson, Gabriela Morris, Sophia Fraser-Binns, among others.
These are very capable women, and they have not called into question Golding’s manner when interacting with them.
Throughout both his professional and political career there have never been instances of unsavoury behaviour aimed at women. Golding is always courteous and respectful in his discourse.
The Minister of Finance, Fayval Williams, has been very poor in her parliamentary presentations and has come up short time and time again when questioned by the Opposition. Both Damion Crawford and Julian Robinson could have put her to the sword, but chose not to do so. Many politicians would not be so kind.
Morgan knows Fayval Willians is no Dr Nigel Clarke and is in fact, a liability when she gets to her feet in parliament. Golding has not gleefully exposed her or belittled her in Gordon House. She still hasn’t given a cogent explanation of how the money received will fund the Melissa recovery, nor has she adequately explained the JPS financing arrangement with the Government.
The Senator cannot substantiate his claim, so why make it? All he is doing is stirring up racial animosity, and it is unnecessary. In fact, it is vile.
It would be better if Marlon Morgan gave thought before reflexively attacking his political opponents. As it is he comes off silly and no one can take him seriously. Playing the race card this way is unbecoming and nobody believes that Golding harbours this kind of animus.
Morgan is the ugliest member of the JLP… and there I say it, his unsurpassing ugliness goes across party lines.
He would do well to emulate the Prime Minister’s sartorial manner, take a leaf from Robert Nesta Morgan’s book. Seek out Christian Tavares-Finson on how to spruce up your wardrobe. Get some personal grooming, and forgo the ill-fitting suits. Visit “Adam & Eve” every now and then. Don’t look like a troglodyte. Don’t be ugly on the inside and the outside.
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