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For those wanting a chronology on his political life, P.J. Patterson: Fulfilling A Legacy Of Leadership, the documentary on Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister, will suffice.
But for students of politics and political history seeking a broader and deeper analysis of Patterson's impact on Jamaica's development, this 73-minute film falls short of the mark.
It is a single-dimensional portrayal of an important figure who cast a long and influential shadow over the island, including 14 years as its leader.
Such political involvement was not without controversy. Indeed, there were many, ranging from the so-called Sugar Deal when Patterson was Foreign Minister in the 1970s, to the economic policies of the Government and the collapse of the financial sector in the 1990s.
- Editor's Note
A FULL house turned out at Jamaica House last Tuesday for the launch of P.J. Patterson: Fulfilling A Legacy Of Leadership, a documentary on Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister.
There were contrasting views on the documentary from members of the ruling People's National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
"It's very informative, but cannot do justice to his total contribution to the different spheres of Jamaican life and the PNP," said Paul Burke, a long-serving PNP member.
JLP Member of Parliament, Mike Henry, described the film as a 'good step' in documenting the country's leaders, but said it fell short in certain areas.
"I think it could have had more depth in terms of specific elements that impacted the country," said Mr. Henry, who operates LMH Publishing.
Fulfilling A Legacy Of Leadership was produced by the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC). It took the company 10 months to complete the project.
The documentary chronologically retraces Mr. Patterson's life, starting with his early days in rural Hanover. It examines the promise he showed as a political administrator during his years as a student leader at the University College of the West Indies (now University of the West Indies), and his rise up the PNP ranks.
Comments on Mr. Patterson the Prime Minister and Caribbean statesman come from former Cabinet colleague Burchell Whiteman and Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo. Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga and PNP stalwart David Coore were also interviewed.
Politically-divisive 1970s
There are also snippets of the politically-divisive 1970s when Mr. Patterson was a senior member of Prime Minister Michael Manley's socialist Cabinet. But little mention is made of the many controversies that dogged his own tenure (1992-2006) as PM.
Kirk Buchanan, Legacy producer/ director, said the CPTC steered clear of the so-called scandals.
"The real controversies are when he looks back at the economic meltdown of the early 1990s and the gas riots (of 1999), things he felt strongly about," said Mr. Buchanan. "Those were spots when it became antagonistic in terms of Mr. Seaga's views and Mr. Patterson's take on what went wrong."
Hartley Neita, a veteran journalist who served as press secretary for three Prime Ministers, believes while it is important to give a comprehensive exposé on leaders, it is not always necessary to stir up the hornet's nest.
For Hugh Shearer: A Voice For The People, Neita's bio on Jamaica's third Prime Minister, he said he shied from certain aspects of the trade union leader's personal life. For this, Neita said he was criticised.
"I mentioned that he and Michael (Manley) were attracted to women and the women were attracted to them, but I didn't use the word womaniser," Mr. Neita explained. "For certain things I used my editorial judgement."
The warts-and-all bio, it seems, is a given in these days of aggressive marketing. However, some authors like Trinidadian Ken Boodhoo are of the opinion that Caribbean people are not prepared to have their heroes unmasked.
Mr. Boodhoo, a professor in international relations at Florida International University, said he took a lot of heat for The Elusive Eric Williams, his compelling biography of Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister.
He not only looked at Williams the former prodigy who charted his country's independence from Britain, but revealed an aloof intellect who abandoned his first wife and two young children.
P.J. Patterson: Fulfilling A Legacy Of Leadership is scheduled to go on sale in March.