The sentiment that once you are a politician or minister of government you must not acquire properties or seek health services overseas is abject nonsense.

We probably should not dignify such suggestions with an editorial in this beloved newspaper, but for the fact that there are actually some people who pander to such beliefs, usually to satisfy some personal or political agenda.

Of course we are referring to two news stories which emerged over the weekend: the first in the Sunday Herald titled ‘$50 million homes’ saying that three Cabinet ministers — Mr Audley Shaw, the finance minister; Mr Daryl Vaz, the information minister; and Mr James Robertson, the energy minister — have bought homes in the United States; and the second in yesterday’s edition of the Observer, reporting that some doctors have blasted Mr Shaw for seeking medical assistance overseas for his ailing baby.

As a newspaper, we recognise that such information will make headlines. However, we are entirely aware that, as our wise old people used to say, “not everything good fi eat good fi talk”.

We have cherished the notion in this country that every Jamaican, politicians included, has the right to enjoy the quality of life that he or she can afford. This includes the right to seek the best health services available and in any part of the world.

Even if Jamaica had the best health care system in the world, it would still be our right to go wherever we feel comfortable. Despite great advancements in medicine in their country, many Americans go to Cuba and elsewhere for their highly reputable health services.

Mr Shaw was forced to suffer the indignity of explaining why his child who was born prematurely was undergoing treatment in the United States. The short answer to that is it is none of our business. Unless, of course, Mr Shaw was using public funds to pay for the treatment.

We also wonder what the naysayers would tell Mr and Mrs Shaw if the child were to die after being brought home just to satisfy that silly idea that her parents must send the ‘right signal’ by using local health services.

By the way, let’s not even pretend that our local health services can handle all our demands.

As to the matter of ministers acquiring homes in the US, we can’t help asking what was the true purpose of the story?

We note that no suggestion was offered, other than by a subliminal message, that public funds were corruptly used in the acquisition of the properties. In one case, the minister — Mr Robertson — bought his homes while his party was in Opposition. A second minister — Mr Vaz — was a businessman and citizen of the US until he renounced that citizenship to satisfy our electoral laws.

As far as we know, the only stricture on politicians is that they declare such property to the Integrity Commission of Parliament.

But most importantly, were there other politicians or ministers of government, past or present, who acquired homes overseas? Such a story would demand that kind of rigour, if the intention was about keeping politicians honest.

As we said earlier, every Jamaican has the right to enjoy the fruits of his/her legal earnings. To suggest otherwise is parochial and puerile.