Dear Editor,

The Chairman of the National Democratic Movement Michael Williams wrote a letter to the editor published in the Daily Observer on December 18, 2015, headlined ‘More needed from PNP and Westmoreland MP Vaz’. He appropriately wrote that the political ombudsman must request that the member of parliament (MP) and/or the People’s National Party (PNP) pay for radio statements to be aired telling PNP supporters not to act on the Westmoreland MP’s urging for which he apologised.

I fully concur with Williams on that recommendation being forwarded by the political ombudsman. His so-called public apology does not go far enough.

Newstalk 93 FM evening talk show host and Observer columnist, the irrepressible Garfield Higgins asked the instructive question on his show (December 18), why hasn’t Police Commissioner Carl Williams called Vaz in and interviewed him for his clearly inciting violence on the political platform and prompting the PNP supporters in this regard.

Vaz’s statement was clearly very irresponsible, callous, shallow and showed reckless thinking. The PNP MP should have no place in elected politics, and should be booted from Westmoreland Central and not be allowed to contest that seat for the party in the upcoming election. The political bar, if you will, must be held and maintained high if this country is to progressively move forward. His overall conduct was despicable and is a national disgrace for a sitting MP.

Since Portia Simpson Miller was elected PNP president, the party has been deteriorating in many negative ways. The constant infighting across many constituencies shows her up as a weak leader, quite shameful to say the least.

Robert Dalley

robertdalley1@hotmail.com