Dear Editor,
After watching the news on Sunday evening I've had a bad taste in my mouth. I heard of the events that took place at a lay magistrates' function in May Pen recently.
The news stated that the Contractor General Dirk Harrison, who was slated to give the keynote address, expressed to the host of the function that he was uncomfortable being in the presence of His Worship the Mayor Councillor Scean Barnswell.
Both men are public officials who are supposed to serve the citizens of this country based on the portfolio of the offices.
Mayor Barnswell was invited to the function not just because he is mayor, but also because he is a justice of the peace that serves the parish of Clarendon and a member of the lay magistrates association of the same parish.
It is reported that the mayor had to leave due to the wishes of Harrison.
I must exclaim, without reservation, that if this is so, I find the actions of the contractor general to be very petty and unprofessional.
Even if Barnswell had been charged with breaching the Contractor General's Act, this has nothing to do with Harrison himself.
If the contractor general can behave in such a manner in this a simple matter, that does not have anything to do with him personally, the question is how will he behave with the more serious issues that are brought to the attention of his office?
The fact is, if Dirk Harrison resigns today Barnwell will still have to answer to the charges.
This behaviour reminds me of when I was five and went over to my neighbour's house to play with my friend of the same age. When things didn't go the way I wanted I would say "mi nah play wid yuh again" and left, being very upset.
I am of the view that, based on this occurence, Dirk Harrison is not mature enough to hold such an office of great responsibility. If he exercises this lack of maturity with the matters that come to his office then, without a doubt, as a people, as a country, we will pay the price.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
'Mi nah play wid yuh again'
-->
After watching the news on Sunday evening I've had a bad taste in my mouth. I heard of the events that took place at a lay magistrates' function in May Pen recently.
The news stated that the Contractor General Dirk Harrison, who was slated to give the keynote address, expressed to the host of the function that he was uncomfortable being in the presence of His Worship the Mayor Councillor Scean Barnswell.
Both men are public officials who are supposed to serve the citizens of this country based on the portfolio of the offices.
Mayor Barnswell was invited to the function not just because he is mayor, but also because he is a justice of the peace that serves the parish of Clarendon and a member of the lay magistrates association of the same parish.
It is reported that the mayor had to leave due to the wishes of Harrison.
I must exclaim, without reservation, that if this is so, I find the actions of the contractor general to be very petty and unprofessional.
Even if Barnswell had been charged with breaching the Contractor General's Act, this has nothing to do with Harrison himself.
If the contractor general can behave in such a manner in this a simple matter, that does not have anything to do with him personally, the question is how will he behave with the more serious issues that are brought to the attention of his office?
The fact is, if Dirk Harrison resigns today Barnwell will still have to answer to the charges.
This behaviour reminds me of when I was five and went over to my neighbour's house to play with my friend of the same age. When things didn't go the way I wanted I would say "mi nah play wid yuh again" and left, being very upset.
I am of the view that, based on this occurence, Dirk Harrison is not mature enough to hold such an office of great responsibility. If he exercises this lack of maturity with the matters that come to his office then, without a doubt, as a people, as a country, we will pay the price.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com
'Mi nah play wid yuh again'
-->