Dear Editor,

One would think that those offering themselves for public leadership in whatever sphere would, at the very least, be well read.

Perhaps more of them would then be acquainted with the sobriety of Rudyard Kipling’s tome, If, especially the line that opens, “If you can keep your head when those around you are losing theirs…”

Recently I became mortified while watching a morning programme on a local TV station when one of the hosts thought it OK to descend into the unfathomable abyss of insensitivity by proffering his opinion that, basically, only “pretty people” should be concerned about monkeypox.

Further reporting of the morning show fiasco disclosed that the host, Isat Buchanan, is the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of the People’s National Party (PNP). Firstly, kudos to the PNP for even having a Human Rights Commission; however, its choice of chairman has proven to be wanting.

The utterances of Buchanan reveal a cavalier attitude to a serious issue.

It is therefore ironic that in recognising the need for a Human Rights Commission they chose someone who, despite also being an attorney-at-law, can be so quick at the lips to have caused such a slip. As ironic as was the case of a medical doctor making light of a serious medical condition.

The comment was made in the presence of Raymond Pryce who quickly tried to ameliorate the situation. The usually unflappable Pryce visibly struggled to maintain his famed slick composure and just barely managed to exit the situation unscathed.

Which brings me to the question: Why does the PNP so frequently bypass one of its best ambassadors with relatively high public appeal and whose intellectual acumen is so often on full display for the public to see, to, instead, opt for those who, in most cases, seem to suffer from foot in mouth disease? When you consider some of Damion Crawford’s utterances on the political hustings, such as those that were directed at Ann-Marie Vaz, it seems to be a disease endemic to the PNP.

If only these exuberant, not-so-youthful PNP leaders would engage brain first and mouth after, perhaps the organisation they represent would be more effective in getting support for its policies and programmes, as far as those exist.

Until then, let’s see if Pryce will be around the next time one of them decides to fly off from the mouth without applying grey matter first.

Carver Anderson

Waterworks, St Andrew

carveyandy1967@gmail.com