Dear Editor,
The piece entitled, 'Stalemate Jamaica', published in the Tuesday, April 28, 2015 edition of the Observer, saw the author advancing arguments that warrant meaningful response. The author, Grace Virtue, weighed in on the recent spate of killings and other incidents of child abuse, juxtaposing those events with subsequent responses from members of the political directorate, myself included.
It was quite noticeable, regrettably so, that responses from the political directorate were positioned as one having to do more with political opportunism and gamesmanship than anything else. To the extent that Virtue's views have called into question the sincerity of the parliamentary Opposition, they cannot be allowed to stand.
Let me say, first and foremost, that I have never found favour with political one-upmanship and will never embrace a kind of politics that sacrifices serious issues, particularly those that shock our conscience as a nation, on the altar of political expediency. I have no reason to believe that it is any different with my Opposition colleagues.
The author must be mindful of the fact that the Opposition is part of the leadership of this country and as such has a duty to build consensus and mobilise public support in condemning the savagery being meted out to our children. Therefore, commiserating with families of the victims and decrying the actions of criminals are entirely in keeping with how we in the Opposition should function as leaders in our own right. I have a fundamental difficulty, therefore, with any attempt by the author to ascribe improper motive and likening our condemnation of murders to political opportunism, or dismiss them as "...looking for issues to exploit".
Our condemnation of criminality is as sincere as it is timely. Observers will recognise that our responses do not end with mere commiserations. We go beyond that, as we pride ourselves on being a politically mature and solution-oriented Opposition; never hesitating to make suggestions and putting solutions on the table for consideration. It is for the Government to consider those suggestions, as well as other available options, and act decisively thereafter.
We must never lose sight of the fact that a Government is elected to administer the affairs of a country. Government must be held accountable, therefore, and should be reminded at every opportunity that they are under an obligation to do the work they were elected to do.
We undermine our democracy when we give the Government a free pass by not holding it to account, but instead, focus on chastising the Opposition for carrying out its duties. Instead of wreaking cynicism upon everyone involved in political life, we would be better served holding Government to account and, in so doing, distinguish between those elected to govern and those providing oversight; serving as important checks and balances to the democracy we enjoy.
Derrick Smith, CD, MP
Opposition spokesman on national security
The piece entitled, 'Stalemate Jamaica', published in the Tuesday, April 28, 2015 edition of the Observer, saw the author advancing arguments that warrant meaningful response. The author, Grace Virtue, weighed in on the recent spate of killings and other incidents of child abuse, juxtaposing those events with subsequent responses from members of the political directorate, myself included.
It was quite noticeable, regrettably so, that responses from the political directorate were positioned as one having to do more with political opportunism and gamesmanship than anything else. To the extent that Virtue's views have called into question the sincerity of the parliamentary Opposition, they cannot be allowed to stand.
Let me say, first and foremost, that I have never found favour with political one-upmanship and will never embrace a kind of politics that sacrifices serious issues, particularly those that shock our conscience as a nation, on the altar of political expediency. I have no reason to believe that it is any different with my Opposition colleagues.
The author must be mindful of the fact that the Opposition is part of the leadership of this country and as such has a duty to build consensus and mobilise public support in condemning the savagery being meted out to our children. Therefore, commiserating with families of the victims and decrying the actions of criminals are entirely in keeping with how we in the Opposition should function as leaders in our own right. I have a fundamental difficulty, therefore, with any attempt by the author to ascribe improper motive and likening our condemnation of murders to political opportunism, or dismiss them as "...looking for issues to exploit".
Our condemnation of criminality is as sincere as it is timely. Observers will recognise that our responses do not end with mere commiserations. We go beyond that, as we pride ourselves on being a politically mature and solution-oriented Opposition; never hesitating to make suggestions and putting solutions on the table for consideration. It is for the Government to consider those suggestions, as well as other available options, and act decisively thereafter.
We must never lose sight of the fact that a Government is elected to administer the affairs of a country. Government must be held accountable, therefore, and should be reminded at every opportunity that they are under an obligation to do the work they were elected to do.
We undermine our democracy when we give the Government a free pass by not holding it to account, but instead, focus on chastising the Opposition for carrying out its duties. Instead of wreaking cynicism upon everyone involved in political life, we would be better served holding Government to account and, in so doing, distinguish between those elected to govern and those providing oversight; serving as important checks and balances to the democracy we enjoy.
Derrick Smith, CD, MP
Opposition spokesman on national security