Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to the prime minister.

I know this must be the most trying, frightening and lonely time in your political career, but I want you to know that, despite all the negative and angry comments about you, I still believe in you. I believe that you became prime minister for such a time as this. I believe with all my heart that with the help of Almighty God, you have what it takes to begin to transform this nation into one of decency and order. As a nation, we have demonstrated that we are a great people and will no longer tolerate disorder and criminality.

I have known you for the past 36 years and I have watched you, interacted with you, seen you happy, angry, crying, seen you leave the JLP for the NDM and back to the JLP and now prime minister. I know you have a good heart and the height of your greatness is yet to come!

I believe the resistance to the extradition request was not because you were in league with Christopher Coke or you wanted the status quo to remain, but because you know the underbelly of your constituency better than most, and as such would want to spare your constituents the bloodshed, pain and suffering which has unfortunately happened. I believe the whole Manatt, Phelps and Phillips saga was an attempt to find another legal way to settle the extradition issue, thereby sparing your constituents the anguish of a bloodbath. Many argue that you deceived but “is not everything good to eat, good to talk”. What I hear loud and clear is a people frightened and very angry because you have not provided the jobs; crime is out of control and people don’t want the USA messing with their visas!

I believe you looked at all the options and saw “no win”. You were between a “rock and a hard place!” At the expense of your political career, you did what you had to do. It took a whole lot of testicular fortitude to do what you did.

I don’t know what you will do in the days and months ahead, given what is playing out in the media, the Opposition and the populace at large, but this one thing I know: if anyone is able to “degarrisonise” Jamaica, it is you.

God is counting on you, Jamaica is counting on you to make all of us free and prosperous again. You are forever in my prayers.

Avril May

Trout Hall PO

Clarendon