An early literary citing of the phrase ‘shooting the messenger’ states in Plutarch’s Lives: “The first messenger that gave notice of Lucullus’ coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that he had his head cut off for his pains; and no man dared to bring further information. Without any intelligence at all, Tigranes sat while war was already blazing around him, giving ear only to those who flattered him.”

The advice “don’t shoot the messenger” was also expressed by William Shakespeare in Henry IV, Part 2 (1598) and in Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra threatens to treat the messenger’s eyes as balls when told Antony has married another, eliciting the response: “Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match.”

Mr Paul Burke, the general secretary of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP), has accused the Jamaica Observer of launching a campaign against him; in other words, he’s blaming or ‘shooting the messenger’ for his woes.

The newspaper earned Mr Burke’s indignation by reporting in its Sunday January 3, 2016 edition what sources in his own party say are concerns about the general secretary’s tenure ahead of imminent general elections.

In an e-mail to his fellow officers, he makes the accusation but does not go on to outline the evidence of this campaign against him. One is therefore left to assume that the mere publishing of a report that Mr Burke finds unfavourable to himself constitutes a campaign against him.

Newspapers, and that includes the Jamaica Observer, get these sort of ludicrous accusations all the time and for the most part treat them with the contempt they deserve. But in this case, Mr Burke doesn’t just make an accusation, he goes on to declare: “Trust me, I can deal with the Observer.”

When a general secretary of a political party sends such a signal to his supporters that he can “deal with” someone, it is abundantly necessary to ask what does he mean by that.

Mr Burke had better understand that no threat — veiled or otherwise — will cause this newspaper to retreat into self-censorship or to stop reporting the news as we see fit.

He must also know that anyone in such a critical leadership position as he is will attract criticism from internal and external quarters. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Mr Burke is better advised to “deal with” the criticisms which are coming from within his party. The unprecedented dissension, including street demonstrations, in so many constituencies held by the party, is by no means of our making. Beating up on the messenger does not make it go away.

So, again, like the messenger who earned Cleopatra’s ire, we say: “Gracious Sir, I that do bring the news made not the match.”