Dear Editor,

I believe your editorial on Wednesday was written without complete understanding of the issues surrounding the boycott of the swearing-in ceremony for KSAC councillors.

I must confess some disappointment that the fundamental issues would have escaped your usually keen and incisive analysis. As I have said, the decision to move the swearing-in ceremony of councillors away from the seat of the city’s government is tantamount to not swearing in MPs at Gordon House, the seat of legislative authority in the country.

I do not recall this being done in recent times and we are now checking the records to see if this was ever done at all in the 89-year history of the current corporate form of the city’s government.

Your editorial says, “…the most one can give the Opposition party is that they have a sense of history and tradition.” Thank you for giving us that. History, tradition and national symbols are important to the spirit and practice of our governance. I am sure that the editorial is not suggesting that it is only history at stake with the removal of the ceremony to a place other than the council building.

A precedent has developed that, in our minds, would amount to a convention, and for that to be changed it would require more than just informal overtures of this intention. No formal discussions were held, nor were the JLP councillors formally informed or consulted about such an unprecedented move. Further, the JLP councillors could see no newly emerged issue which would warrant or justify such a move.

Only one new division has been added to the council, and that one new councillor could not have caused an overflow at the municipal building. We therefore have to consider carefully the motive behind moving the ceremony and pay close attention to the trend of politicisation and harassment of Opposition councillors which seems to be orchestrated at such events.

As politicians we are not thin-skinned, we don’t mind the good-hearted gloating of victors within the bounds of decency, and certainly when it is clear that leadership exists to curb exuberant supporters. We are not so convinced that this unbecoming behaviour at the swearing-in ceremonies are random occurrences.

There is a sense of coordination and deliberateness to the point of even ridiculously wanting to take the green out of our flag. Civic ceremonies are a reflection of our national spirit and must be conducted in a dignified way, preserving our history, symbols and heritage.

As the loyal alternative government for the people of Jamaica we have a solemn duty to protect Jamaica and what it stands for in the interest of all Jamaicans, even if initially those who lead opinion may consider the matter not even worthy of a fry-fish shop.

Andrew Michael Holness

Opposition Leader

amholness@gmail.com