Dear Editor,

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness recently made the following tweet, “The region is facing a difficult period. Condolences to our Caribbean family, Mexico and the USA. You are all in our prayers.”

Simon Crosskill responded to that tweet by saying, “I am sure the rest of the Caribbean will also send condolences to Jamaica for the more than 1,000 Jamaicans that have been murdered since the start of the year.”

Suffice it to say, Crosskill came under attack right away from those Jamaicans on Twitter who are members of the ‘Andrew Holness Fan Club’ who seem to think that Crosskill should not have an opinion that was not in line with the worship and praise of their demigod.

Let me remind these Jamaicans that Prime Minister Holness is being paid to work by taxpayers’ money, and that as a tax-paying citizen of Jamaica, Crosskill has every right to his opinion — much in the same way they have the right to theirs when they are heaping praises on the shoulders of Holness who, lest they have forgotten, told Jamaicans that under his Government Jamaicans would be able to sleep with doors and windows open.

In a country where the population for 2017 is 2.8 million, that over 1,000 Jamaicans have been murdered since the start of the year is cause for much concern.

Twenty-five people lost their lives in Hurricane Irma in the entire Caribbean region, with a smaller number so far in Florida. Not for one minute am I saying that those lives are not worthy of condolence to families and loved ones, but 1000-odd lives lost to home-grown terrorists speaks volumes about the country, the people, and the leader of said country. There is need of much more than prayers.

Crosskill, like any well-thinking Jamaican, is concerned about what is taking place in the land he calls home, the land where, instead of leaving windows and doors open, people are trying to find ways and means to imprison themselves in their homes for fear of their space being intruded by those who wish to cause harm and bloodshed.

So to those who want to attack Crosskill for having an opinion that did not sit well with them, I will say: Take your heads out of that dark place of hero worship and understand that every single Jamaican should very well be afraid and very concerned. Now is not the time for hero worship and praise, now is the time to confront the reality that Jamaica is facing a devastating problem, and no manner of burying heads in the sand will fix it.

Holness is the leader of the country; he wanted the job, asked for it, and got it; therefore, the onus is on him to perform, not to profile.

Hats off to you, Simon Crosskill.

Michelle Bradshaw

michelleannmariebradshaw@gmail.com