January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Analysis / The strains of a tough job
The vultures circled and he finally succumbed
formed the National Liberal Party (NLP).
It could be that the internal struggles the UBP is now going through may be the norm for the Opposition Blues.
Certainly opposition parties feel a heavy strain. While they have just as much need of research and managed office systems, their functions aren't budgeted for from public funds. They have no power to appoint faithful volunteers to posts with pay or prestige.
They have no ready access to a public relations machine matching their partisan rivals in the government. And they have no way to set policy, only to oppose it.
The strain on an Opposition leader is likely to be the cumulative strain of the entire membership. His/her party is the eternal bridesmaid. Expectations of performance and effectiveness are high. Opportunities for successfully interventions are low. Between elections, the party must survive on pure grit.
At election time, the party is handicapped by surprise, lack of a bully pulpit, never enough funds and an uphill battle.
Every day, the opposition party gets to cringe at government announcements of its actions. The role of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition must be to scrutinise and try to pick holes in government policy and practice, whether good or otherwise - that's their job.
Meanwhile, the opportunities for the Opposition to develop, propose and legitimise its own alternative policies are infrequent.
Within all that tension, current UBP leader Wayne Furbert has buckled. While he has readily tackled public issues, his handling of internal struggles hasn't pleased his audiences within or outside the party.
He was wounded; the sharks smelled blood and as they circled, he succumbed.
Michael Dunkley, stepping into the leadership role so close to an election, faces a tough job.
What do you think? Is Michael Dunkley the right man for the job and if so, why? E-mail the editor: [email protected][[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.