Dear Editor,

With the decision by the People’s National Party (PNP) Government to retain embattled Member of Parliament Richard Azan in his post as junior minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing — at least until the outcome of the OCG report they say — the party once again shows that it will continue to do whatever it wants to do, with no regard to what is considered right.

Sadly, I can’t say I’m surprised. The examples of the PNP flexing its political muscles and shoving out its chest at anyone who dares to challenge the party are mounting rapidly, with less than a year and a half in office. They range from:

– the flag controversy last year with Montego Bay Mayor Glendon Harris at the swearing-in ceremony for councillors.

– the super-imposed image of the education minister on the national flag for use as material for students (printing error excuse notwithstanding).

– the controversial NHT $45.6-billion drawdown, which even saw the law of the land amended with urgency to facilitate this move.

– ignoring cries from near-everybody for government ministers to take a pay cut and/or shave the size of the “wardrobe”

– the recent saga with the renaming of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in honour of Dr Eldemire

and this list is not exhaustive, even when you add this whole Richard Azan saga.

Where does it end? To what lengths will this Government go? What will they do next? The Opposition seems to be on the other side of the fence barking like a toothless dog, seemingly powerless to stop the behemoth citizens let loose by voting, or not voting, in the last round of elections. It is almost as if we are living in a democratically communist country. I’ve never heard of that term, but such appears to be the nature of what is unfolding.

To me, it appears that the “Comrade for life” bond is so strong, that this Government appears not to have an objective bone in its structure. It seems as if it’s always party first. If after all this colleague MPs can still find the grace to look in each other’s eyes I shudder to think what will be next.

Might as well change the maxim from “People Power” to “People In Power”.

Double A

St Andrew