Dear Editor,

I have lived in some countries and I am quite experienced in observing politics from a global perspective. Jamaica’s politics is still underdeveloped and immature in many respects. Oftentimes Jamaicans who criticise political parties here in Jamaica are sometimes pilloried because of the backward nature of the politics.

Whenever Jamaicans speak their minds eloquently within the public domain they need to be applauded. As a citizen residing in Montego Bay, I would like to openly extend my sincere congratulations to former St James Central Member of Parliament Lloyd B Smith and outspoken Montego Bay commentator Robert Dalley.

Both citizens are deserving of congratulations for regularly speaking and writing on a wide range of national and political issues in the print media. They have, over the years, been fearless advocates for the development of Montego Bay, including the need for Montego Bay’s 19 inner-city communities to be regularised and for the necessary infrastructure to be put into place.

Lloyd B Smith had a successful tenure as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for the newly created St James Central constituency. He was dutiful, sincere and hard-working in carrying out his many duties and did well over the period of political service. He was a disciplined parliamentarian, who represented the interests of his constituents well, and I am proud of his distinguished service. He has done Montego Bay proud.

Robert Dalley has over the years been a citizen never afraid to speak and write on a plethora of national and political issues to highlight the many problems affecting Montego Bay and making positive recommendations for them to be corrected. He is a well known Montego Bay opinion writer, who regularly produces excellent opinion letters and columns. While others are afraid to do so publicly, I congratulate Dalley for being an outspoken citizen and commentator.

I have been following Messrs Smith’s and Dalley’s writings for many years in this

Jamaica Observer newspaper and other newspapers and admire their fearlessness for always expressing themselves in the interests of the development of Montego Bay and Jamaica. They have been patriotic Jamaicans hitting out at corruption in government, whenever it appears, and I urge them to continue their meaningful public service of expressing themselves in the media and in other public forums. We need more outspoken citizens like these two model Montego Bay residents.

Well done, Lloyd B Smith and Robert Dalley.

Richard L Tomlinson, CA, CPA

Montego Bay, St James

drtomlinson22@hotmail.com