FOR THE umpteenth time since his party was elected to form the Government, Bruce Golding will be going to the podium with a captive audience.

When Golding addresses the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) 66th annual conference today, he will be speaking to the hundreds of Labourities in the National Arena, thousands of Jamaicans listening on radio and television, and millions of persons around the world who are waiting to hear the Government's plans to move the country out of its quagmire.

It is not an unusual position for Golding, who has made dozens of these speeches in his long political history and has, more often that not, struck the right note.

Who can forget his acceptance speech on September 11, 2007, when many were left teary eyed as he offered the hand of friendship to a People's National Party (PNP), which though defeated at the polls was at the time still adamant that "it ain't over yet"?

"I want to sit down with you, Portia. Let's talk about Jamaica. Let's talk about a dream that I believe we share for Jamaica whose people are at peace

with each other, where equality and justice reign supreme," Golding said as he was sworn in as Jamaica's eighth Prime Minister.

But that should come as no surprise to those who have followed the development of Golding since he entered active politics and was elected member of parliament at the age of 24.

In his almost 62 years, Golding has always talked a good game, and those who spent time with him on the university campus can tell many stories about when he left audiences spellbound with his mastery of the language, be it English or 'Jamaican'.

Over the years, many political watchers dubbed him 'Orator' Bruce Golding , a play on the name Orette Bruce Golding that his parents gave him when he was born on December 5, 1947.

So when he takes to the conference podium today, with the deafening shouts of "Shower!" ringing in his ears, only a fool, or a thief, would bet against Golding delivering a performance that could rival Barack Obama or National Hero Marcus Garvey.

cold reality

But once the cameras turn off and the adoring Labourities leave the Arena, the cold reality will begin to set in. Golding has 'talked the talk' since being elected - but has he 'walked the walk'?

Sure, his administration inherited a ramshackle broken-down country with the economic fundamentals mostly wrong.

Sure, he inherited a country where many believe the easiest way to settle an argument is to kill your adversary.

Sure, he inherited a health sector on life support and an education sector wearing a 'dunce cap'. Sure, his administration is facing the worst economic crisis the world has seen in more than 70 years.

These are facts which not even the most ardent PNP supporter can challenge and which any critic of Golding should admit and move on.

That is why the majority of voters - albeit small - booted out the PNP and said to the JLP, return from 18 years in the political wilderness and lead us to The Promised land.

But two years on, Golding and his team are yet to demonstrate that they can do the job. In Golding, the country has a prime minister who understands the problems and can articulate them ad nauseam, but we are yet to determine if he can make the decisions needed to fix them.

questions

After two years on the job, Jamaicans are asking Golding what is being done to tame the crime monster which continues to stalk the land and seems to be growing in size and savagery every day.

What is being done to address the debt which has grown by more than 30 per cent in two years and where are the jobs you promised?

What is being done about JLP supporters facing damming allegations, and why is this different from how the PNP treated its 'special ones'?

Among those whom Jamaicans believe Golding has not acted decisively against are former junior minister Joseph Hibbert, west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, and the 'furniture minister'.

Then there are more questions about that extended negotiation with the International Monetary Fund, which Golding convinced the country we need but where finalising a deal remains a moving target.

Golding is also under pressure for his failure to trim the Cabinet. Two months after he announced the plan, Golding has added a special adviser to his office and returned a junior minister, while some ministers continue to get by with no achievements to show after two years.

To be fair to Golding and his team, Lady Luck has abandoned them.

But their modus operandi has not given the country confidence that they have the guts needed to lead this fight.

Your words have given us hope, Mr Prime Minister. Now your actions need to fall in line, and until then, you, Orette Bruce Golding, will be included among The Sunday Gleaner's People Under Pressure.