Just when you thought you might not have to write another article on Portia Simpson Miller’s political failings, out of the blue she erupts with a tirade against fellow Comrades in the St Ann South Eastern constituency.

At a meeting in Claremont she berated Comrades who were opposed to the party’s selection of candidates to represent it in the upcoming parish council elections. Her broadside against independent councillors and those who opposed and heckled her at the meeting left many people within and outside of the People’s National Party flabbergasted.

She said, among other things, that she is never one woman to run away from a fight. “I represent one of the strongest constituencies in Jamaica,” she said, “Don’t play with me, I don’t play games. I work hard for this movement from 1974 ’til now, nuh boy, nuh gyal can’t talk to me… I will come back here for another meeting and I know who I will bring.”

In social media and other platforms many Jamaicans regard her utterances as demeaning and threatening. Paul Burke, general secretary of the party, has characterised her statements as non-threatening and as having been taken out of context. Dayton Campbell, a rising star in the party, dimmed in his disingenuous rationalisation of the leader of the Opposition’s utterances.

They and others who defend these statements will have a hard time convincing many Jamaicans as to the validity of their interpretation of what occurred. Even if no threat can be averred, at the very least the former prime minister’s statements and demeanour were unbecoming for one who holds the posts she does, and who have been at the centre of Jamaica’s political life for close to 50 years. They reek of an immaturity that belongs to young political neophytes who are trying to cut their teeth in politics and will say and do anything to get noticed.

Her tirade, when seen in the context of who she is and the posts she holds, must leave any well-thinking Jamaican disturbed. In case she and those who have come out in her defence might have forgotten, it is useful to remind people that Portia Simpson Miller occupies two important positions in Jamaica’s political life. Firstly, she is the leader of one of the oldest and most respected political parties in the Caribbean, and indeed the Latin American region. She has held this position for over a decade and has had and still continues to maintain the loyalty of many in the party who have re-elected her repeatedly to that office. It is now clear from the reluctance of those who do not have the fortitude to challenge her for leadership of the party that, like the redoubtable Robert “Bobby” Pickersgill, she will continue as leader until she decides it is time to walk off into the sunset.

Secondly, by virtue of being leader of her party, Simpson Miller is leader of the Opposition. As such she enjoys the perquisites and honour that go with being the leader of Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition. She does not only enjoy the perks of that office courtesy of the Jamaican people, but she is expected, like any other person who occupies that office, to conduct herself with decorum and circumspection. She may have strongly held views on particular subjects, but there are ways in which those views ought to be communicated without offence and vitriol. Bear in mind that children are watching and hearing what is being said.

Thirdly, Simpson Miller has twice been prime minister of Jamaica. If one has been given that privilege it speaks volumes to how one ought to conduct oneself in or out of office. Not only should one be constrained in one’s public utterances, but one should indulge speech that edifies rather than tears down. As a former prime minister, Simpson Miller did not do herself proudly by indulging the kind of petulant back and forth she had with her dissenting and heckling constituents. And these were members of her own party. What would she have said if these were members of the Jamaica Labour Party?

As leader of her party she may get to do or say whatever she wills to members of her party. If they allow her to get away with it then that is their remit. The shame will be upon them for allowing her to bring the party into disrepute without, to date, an apology being offered to them for her embarrassing behaviour. But when she speaks she does not only do so as party leader, but as an employee of the people of Jamaica, both as a parliamentarian and more importantly as the leader of the Opposition. The people who hire her have a right to call her out on her utterances and to demand accountability for words and actions that come from her or any other occupant of that office.

As citizens of Jamaica, we must demand an apology from her not necessarily as party leader, but certainly as the person leading the people’s Opposition to the Jamaica Labour Party in the people’s parliament. The distinction between the two ought to be crystal clear even to her most ardent and blinkered supporters.

Yes, Portia Simpson Miller, something is indeed rotten in the “town” of Denmark. Unfortunately your speech and others of similar vintage from political platforms continue to contribute to that rot. Such behaviour does not move the dial toward civilised living and decency. This is regrettable. We are sick of it all. Better must be done.

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest and social commentator. Send comments to the Observer orstead6655@aol.com.