Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to Andrew Holness, leader of the Opposition:

As you undoubtedly know and appreciate, all our political parties are supposed to put Jamaica first — and I believe they do. With this presumption, I not only vote, but support them according to my conscience, and so I have never been aligned to any that, in my considered opinion, has not been acting in the best interest of Jamaican and Caribbean people.

I grew up in a constituency which was predominantly Jamaica Labour Party territory. I abhorred strong socialism or communism.

I supported the JLP when there was a rebirth of strong socialism during Michael Manley’s leadership of the PNP. I worked literally night and day to get rid of the socialism thrust, even though, ironically, I voted for Michael Manley when he first came into power, not knowing much about him and thinking he was as moderate as his father Norman was.

Having said all the above, I see you as a young man endowed with a wealth of promise to lead Jamaica, recognising that real improvement can only come from new and fresh minds. However, you have been losing the opportunity by making yourself appear to be a clone of the rejected Edward Seaga, though he made considerable contribution to the development of the country. Man is the product of his environment, so you must change your environment or you will be rejected again.

Bustamante once said in his campaign in western Kingston in 1944: “My cousin Norman is a statesman, but I am a politician.” He was the more popular leader and so he won. He was popular not for not doing the right things; he was popular because he promised and was doing what the people thought was best for the country, for example, creating employment and fighting against communism (the label of the PNP at the time), which Jamaicans were thoroughly against — and continue to be.

In substance, you will never be a leader of this country again if you do anything such as not supporting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). You will be seen as obstructing the people’s path to decolonisation and true independence.

In closing, I admire the composition of your new shadow Cabinet, a good mixture of talent and age with which all administrations, private or public, must be endowed for success.

Finally, one stroke of making the popular decision of supporting the CCJ can propel you to leadership of this country with your young and fresh mind, the indispensable ingredient for progress as demonstrated in every sphere of life. Fresh minds, such as yours, have given us all modern amenities. We have moved from pigeons carrying messages from one continent to another to instantaneous communication. Because of fresh minds we can stay in our homes and travel the world through technology.

I am dying to support the JLP again, but I must see you justifying that. However, you cannot justify that while you continue to fight against the independence of Caribbean people as you do not seem to have enough respect for the ability of Caribbean people to provide our own final court.

Owen S Crosbie

Manchester

oss@cwjamaica.com