Dear Editor,

I have a lot of respect for Senator Mark Golding, and most times I make it my point of duty to listen when he speaks; however, he has lost many stripes based on his recent presentation in the Senate. Golding spoke on his party’s behalf as it relates to Jamaica’s position in relation to the chaos taking place in Venezuela, and Jamaica’s response at the Organization of American States (OAS) level. He heaped flak on the Government for its rather diplomatic stance, by not taking a side and blasting the OAS for its position, and further not putting its full support behind President Nicolas Maduro.The world is quite aware of the unrest that is occurring in Venezuela and the evident authoritarian/dictatorship that President Maduro is purporting. Members of the Venezuelan Opposition parties are no longer allowed to travel outside of the country, the Government has hijacked the Supreme Court, the daily protests have caused numerous lives lost, and many in the country do not have access to basic amenities. These actions are all contrary to a functioning democracy.I am therefore surprised and appalled at the People’s National Party’s stance that the Government of Jamaica — that we the people elected through a democratic process — should throw its support behind a leader that acts contrary to every modern-day acceptable democratic rule.What has struck me, too, is one of the main reasons the Opposition thinks the Government should turn a blind eye to Maduro’s dictatorship. Senator Golding spoke passionately about all the good that former leaders of Venezuela has done for Jamaica, citing several initiatives and gifts we have received, adding that the Government of Venezuela “has been very generous to the people of Jamaica, especially the poor, dispossessed people of our country”. Of these initiatives, the most prominent was the PetroCaribe agreement, for which every Jamaican is grateful. But are we to forget ourselves?As children growing up in the country we were often cautioned not to be ‘licky licky’, as we would be prone to be taken advantage of. Sadly, the People’s National Party has again proven that once they receive they are owned by anyone who gives. The stance taken by the Opposition is rather unfortunate and proves they do not comprehend governance, democracy and, most importantly, diplomacy.I do not wish to sound ungrateful, but not because they have assisted our country by forging alliances beneficial to both parties in one way or another means we must support their every move, especially when it goes against every fibre of what is right and acceptable. Furthermore, not siding with President Maduro does not mean Jamaica does not side with Venezuela.As a citizen of Jamaica, I would be very concerned if the Government openly supported the president’s actions. The Maduro who was elected some years ago is a very different Maduro today.I am very satisfied with the Government’s response and I encourage Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith to continue displaying the level of diplomacy required for her position.I further encourage the Opposition to not be ‘licky licky’, as this disposition has played prominently in their years of mismanagement of the country. 

Javid Brown

Westmoreland

javidbrown@gmail.com