Dear Editor

On Sunday, May 23, in a heartfelt piece that carried a more genuine feel of sincerity than the apology which prompted it, Liz-Marie Acheme gave her reason for forgiving the prime minister as follows:

“If he does resign, when I look ahead, I see a worse predicament. I see Jamaica’s economical (sic) recovery programme destined for disaster. I see a country where there are no viable alternatives to take over the mantle of leadership, neither in the JLP nor the PNP. I hear Jamaicans crying out, “Who shall lead us?” and I see a political system and culture that doom us to a similar variety of bad governance down the road.”

If you believe that, Liz-Marie, you must now personally assume the responsibility to keep Bruce Golding in vitamins for the rest of time and also provide him with a large personal security detail. No, Liz, it’s the politics of the past, to which Bruce made a seminal contribution, that’s ensured “bad governance” and it’s irrational forgiveness like yours that’ll ensure its continuance “down the road”.

Liz-Marie, the cemeteries are full of “indispensable” people. Busta was leader for life. Norman Manley – one of a kind. Seaga himself said he was indispensable. Joshua was, well… Joshua. Get over Bruce, Liz-Marie, he must pay the price for his egregious culpability resulting, in a vital area of public life (national security), in further erosion of law and order. Somebody will replace him; somebody who will have learned from the price that Bruce must pay that he or she can’t repeat the folly; somebody new and different.

Gordon Robinson

gordon_robinson@flowja.com