Samuda and Robinson trade jabs at MSBM forum
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator, Matthew Samuda, traded jabs with MP, Julian Robison, as the two delivered reflections on the 2016 general elections in a public forum staged by the Mona School of Business and Management.
Robinson threw the first political punch, as he presented before Samuda, presenting on the topic of, ‘Governing with a razor thin majority’.
Speaking on the topic, Robison highlighted the need for the new government to manage expectations well.
Particularly, he mentioned the need to prevent the crossing of the floor of disgruntled MPs and the need to prevent public uproar as it related to campaign promises.
“Manging the expectations of a number of people who are expecting their $18,000 on April 1st, the increase in minimum wages and free tuition fees,” quipped Robinson.
“Now those things cost money, and those revenues have to be raised from somewhere. The governing party will have to manage the expectations within a one-seat majority to ensure that there is no public uproar if expectations are not met,” added Robinson.
Robison also said that it was important to properly manage the party’s internal dynamics, as there are set of political expectations that were created primarily because the JLP ran such a good campaign.
The good campaign comment was not particularly genuine as Robinson noted that the JLP campaign was more effective at ‘breaking down belly politics’.
When Samuda took to the podium he wasted no time in countering shady jabs made by Robinson.
“One thing I will remind you, Julian, as an avid sports fan, an ugly win is always better than a pretty loss,” said Samuda.
“Managing expectations is a challenge for any government, I mean hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people thought their solutions to life was JEEP and that oxtail was right around the corner,” charged Samuda, as some members of the audience squirmed a little.
“That’s a low blow,” murmured Robinson.
“Sometimes when you have an ugly win, you have to kick your opponents while their down, so they stay down,” Samuda fired back.
OUCH!
The newly minted senator concluded that managing expectations is not a unique task , he further explained that the challenge is faced by every government and that promises were a part of every campaign.
Samuda added that the Jamaican people were voting less on ideology and more on their ‘tangibles’, with many voters asking these key questions:
1.How will you make my life better?
2.Can you make my life better?
The public forum was held under the theme, ‘Election 2016: Reflections and next steps’.