Boyne & Holness:
WITH OUR different styles, Ian Boyne, like me, has been a strident and consistent advocate of transforming attitudes and values. Without which we can say bye-bye to sustainable economic growth and a peaceful, orderly society, “the place of choice to live, work, do business, and raise families”, according to Vision 2030; and in which to die peacefully of natural causes when the time comes, as it did for Boyne.
Boyne was resolute in his broadsides against negative dancehall, both a reflector and an influencer of some of the darker sides of our culture of slackness. Two celebrated dancehall entertainers are now incarcerated for murder as art and life collide within these performers as in the rest of the society.
Boyne died full of praises for the astuteness and leadership capabilities of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and Mr Holness returned the compliment in his tribute to his departed friend.
HOLNESS’S STRENGTH
Six weeks before his passing, Boyne, commenting on the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) win in the South-East St Mary byelection, wrote, “The essential problem is not Phillips’s weaknesses. It is Andrew Holness’s enormous strengths ... . I have been writing for years that people underestimate Andrew Holness to their own peril and embarrassment ... . People don’t seem to believe Andrew Holness or feel him. I don’t share their view ... .
“I don’t share Mr Holness critics’ negative assessment of him ... . Phillips has one major obstacle: Andrew Holness. Andrew’s major asset ... is his character and personality. His emotional intelligence. His eagerness to listen and his respect for civil society make him a hardy opponent.
“Andrew Holness is not likely to outrage people . ... Yes, Andrew spent on bushing and announced a multimillion dollar road-improvement programme. He got loads of cash to spend, and his machinery proved formidable, but if Andrew were a leader who outraged people and who people disliked, Norman Dunn could not win. Andrew won that election. The worst thing for the PNP (People’s National Party) to do is to continue to underestimate him,” Boyne wrote on November 11 in ‘How Holness ‘Dunn’ Phillips’.
On his part, Prime Minister Holness said in his JIS-released tribute: “Ian’s contribution to media is admirable and represents the power of good journalism. He has distinguished himself as a fair, fearless, and balanced commentator. Ian was simply the consummate communicator. He has helped to guide and craft national speeches for the Offices of the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition across political administrations. His guiding hand, maturity, and calm demeanour will be greatly missed.
“I have benefitted from our conversations on politics, religion,