Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to Prime Minister Golding:

I take the liberty to write to you to offer a word of sympathy and goodwill at a time when you could be experiencing your greatest challenge and trial.

I believe that the stance you have taken re the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and Dudus affairs was not taken flippantly, but after much thought, and for good reasons. But our problem is that many of us see through a glass darkly. Hence, we are not able to discern the full import of intricate matters. We tend to judge only from the surface and to be swayed by the sensational, the irrational and political.

I believe that the matter of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and the Dudus affair has been grossly exaggerated in the media and by the Opposition. To the extent that the present crime wave is irrationally attributed to it, and every mishap between a Jamaican citizen and some favour or unfulfilled favour by America is seen as the cause.

They mistakenly think that by harping on the negative they do the country a service. They do not realise that by their exaggeration they are not just doing harm to the ruling party, but to the nation. Why are our people so obsessed with this thirst for the adversarial and the scandalous? There is urgent need to extricate ourselves from this mindset.

Prime Minister, I commend you for your composure, your dignity and your statesman-like approach in dealing with complex matters. I trust you will never lose your composure even in the face of harsh, unkind and unjust criticism.

Be strong, be undaunted and of a good courage. Let no one cause you to lose sight of your vision for the country. The Eternal God is with you, and I am sure He is on your side. He will help you fight your battle while you remain committed to Him. You can surely rest assured in Him.

May I also take the liberty of referring you to two portions of Scriptures which could be a source of inspiration: Psalms 121 and Acts 18:4-11, particularly verses 9-10:

“Then spoke the Lord to Paul in a version: Be not afraid but speak, and hold not thy peace for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city.”

I dare say you have been chosen a national leader – possibly at the worst of times.

Notwithstanding crisis after crisis, you have been weathering the storm successfully as can be seen:

(1) The near 100 per cent success implementation of the Jamaica Debt Exchange Programme which in the long term should lessen the economic burden on all Jamaicans, as well as facilitating economic growth and job creation.

(2) Fiscal discipline, which should have the spin-off effect of forcing the country as well as individuals to live within their means and what is affordable.

All well-thinking Jamaicans and patriots agree that the country, notwithstanding some glitches, is moving in the right direction. This has also been recognised by several outstanding and friendly countries outside Jamaica, and which should offer us some comfort and satisfaction.

Your tenure has just begun and nothing incidental, no matter how it has been magnified and blown out of proportion, should thwart your efforts or stall the change and the good work begun in the interest of Jamaica.

God has a unique way of creating a way where there is no way through the “Red Sea” of our circumstances.

Rev Cyril D Clarke

Clarendon