Dear Editor,

I write to shed light on the farce being practised by Member of Parliament Peter Bunting who is seeking some new wave of popularity in recent times.

Bunting has taken it upon himself to become the galloping knight and the pillar of virtue for all Jamaicans. I would convey my admirations to him if it was not obvious that he seeks to exploit the ignorance of some who are gullible among us in his quest for political stardom.

Let me first probe (for lack of a better word) Bunting’s accusations about a Chinese takeover of Jamaica and the insinuation that it is a detriment to our independence and that the Government is doing nothing to stop it. It is a known fact that Bunting himself, as minister of national security, and the wider Government he served alongside, frequently availed themselves of the generosity of the Chinese in the interest of the country. However, in an attempt to secure his 15 minutes of fame, he has brought unsubstantiated claims against a nation which has been our ally through several administrations of both the People’s National Party and Jamaica Labour Party. So absurd have been his rants that his fellow Comrades have left him to ‘probe’ a lonely furrow.

Bunting’s latest pet project is the embattled Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), calling for resignations left, right and centre in a behaviour reminiscent of a the queen of hearts in the popular Alice in Wonderland novel. He chastised the recently resigned board and demands the resignation of the CEO, while simultaneously casting aspersions on the leadership of the current security minister. He demanded an investigation into the operations of the FLA. Surprisingly, the very investigation he called for revealed gross improprieties while he himself was minister in charge of the FLA. According to reports, under Bunting’s watch, several unfit individuals got approved for licences after previously being denied. In a poetic turn of events, Bunting may be as culpable as all whose heads he demanded “be rolled”. As a pillar of virtue you would think he denounced the actions of his board and took culpability as he is asking all now to do. Not so. In fact Bunting has come out defending his board despite the findings of gross organisational miscarriages.

Bunting is quickly becoming the antagonist in his very own comedy of errors, in which he plays all the characters, writes and directs. As a member of the audience I have stopped taking his productions seriously and encourage others to watch it for what it is — a comedy.

Theatre critic

St Andrew