Dear Editor,

Recently, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade was announced as, I believe, Jamaica’s first ambassador plenipotentiary with responsibility for national strategic initiatives.

This position seems to be similar to the White House’s chief of staff and is the most powerful non-Cabinet position.

The fact that Lieutenant General Meade has been appointed to this position means Prime Minister Andrew Holness trusts that he is someone who will get things done, and I believe as the Jamaica Defence Force’s former chief of staff he’s more than capable of handling the job.

The Westminster model allows for the appointment of a chief of staff, and I hope the post of chief of staff to the prime minister is eventually created because the title “ambassador plenipotentiary” just won’t work in Jamaica. “Chief of staff” is less complicated to pronounce.

As we celebrate Jamaica 60 the post of ambassador plenipotentiary/chief of staff in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) should be adopted by both major political parties.

Additionally, it is time for Prime Minister Holness to rename a national security advisor. A prime minister should always have a press secretary, communication director, chief of staff/ambassador plenipotentiary, and national security advisor.

I firmly believe as a young democracy Jamaica needs non-parliamentarians to play major roles in government.

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com