Dear Editor,

The Jamaican flag was carefully designed by a bipartisan committee and proudly raised in the presence of respectful and loyal citizens on the occasion of our Independence. Now, 50 years later when we are supposed to celebrate and be inspired by our national symbols, representatives of the governing party are demonstrating their lack of national spirit by deliberately deleting one of the colours of the flag just to satisfy their obsession with tribalism; and this was done at an important civic ceremony.

The mayor’s excuse has been refuted by the decorators who bravely blew a whistle and revealed that they were instructed to omit the green. Somebody is telling an awful “story” and if it is the mayor he must immediately resign or be forced out of office. No one should be allowed to cover his ignorance with the robe of first citizen. He must at once exchange this honoured garment for sackcloth and a rag of repentance.

The dismissal of a special adviser, who is supposed to have been responsible for the fiasco, raises questions about the judgement of those who appointed him in the first place; and yet that person will be left free to make further mistakes in handling the people’s business. The prime minister’s silence in this unsavoury situation must not escape our notice; and we must take the party’s apology with a grain of coarse salt. This is not the first time that they have done this dishonour to the nation. A generation ago the portrait of a national hero was torn from the walls of the Portland Parish Council and thrown outside by PNP councillors. A similar occurrence took place at National Heroes Park some years later. So, of what value is this apology?

While we are on the subject of governmental disregard for good order in our society, I’d like someone to explain how the present mayor of Kingston came to be elected and installed more than a week before the new council came into lawful existence. According to the law governing the KSAC (Section 16), the mayor must be elected by the council and councillors. As no one is legally a councillor until he or she takes the oath of office, there were no councillors at the time the mayor was installed. My question is: on whose authority was Mrs Brown Burke installed as mayor of the capital city of Jamaica?

Ken Jones

kensjones2002@yahoo.com