Dear Editor,

A few hours ago I got the best news since the passage of Hurricane Beryl. As of October 31, Dr Nigel Clarke will assume the post of deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

We just couldn’t keep him for ourselves. I had expected that it would have been the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), but this is even better.

I don’t think that the ordinary man in the street understands the honour that has come to Jamaica. The finance minister of a country of fewer than three million people will be assuming this post. It shows that there are people in this country who are thinkers. We are more than athletic and musical ability. Do you know how many other countries in the world could have been so honoured?

According to Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF: “Mr Clarke is an exceptional public servant and policymaker, with proven leadership in institution-building and economic crisis management who has shepherded his country’s economy to a stronger and more sustainable position…Nigel also brings a wealth of experience from a stellar private sector career.”

“A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4) Many of us could not appreciate him. Well, an international body did.

Norman W M Thompson

norms74160@gmail.com