Dear Editor,

A high-ranking Cabinet minister in the current Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration once expressed to the head pastor of a Montego Bay church that he desires to be like Edward Seaga (when he was alive), much to the disappointment of the pastor, who suggested that it’s better for him to try to be himself and “better than Mr Seaga”.

Oh, I wish that our leaders, whether political, commercial, or professional, would endeavour to be like Lascelles Chin, more so than Seaga, and perhaps even more than Jesus Christ. Consider the three comparisons of Chin to Seaga and Jesus, though I am uninformed of Chin’s political and religious leanings.

In the sombre aftermath of Seaga’s passing, Prime Minister Andrew Holness relayed to the public that Seaga told him, while on his death bed, “to remember the poor”. Somehow it had not struck Holness back then and in hindsight that advice so heartful and intimate should have been kept to himself and allowed to manifest. This was not to be so with Holness’s lack of humility and eagerness to gain political points.

Furthermore, what one is told as advice and what advises and commands is not necessarily reflective of the recipient’s and giver’s true beliefs and agenda. Jesus showed this repeatedly with His interactions with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Apparently, someone unknown to us (sort of) gave Chin the same advice, but instead, he put himself behind (pushing) it rather that in the centre (glory) of it.

A very revealing study was once done under the auspices of Seaga, the then prime minister of Jamaica, which informed us that the academic performance of a large cross section of our schoolchildren, especially in rural Jamaica, was being devastatingly impacted by a pervasive “bush tea” culture as opposed to a more nutrient-centred one, such as one which is more milk-based. We now know that it’s not only early education which might play an important role in a person’s ability to survive and thrive throughout life but also their physiological development. Without reservation, I posit that Chin saved lives and Jamaica, by extension, in this regard, with his commercialisation, fortification, and destigmatisation of powdered milk products. This, when certain whole milk producers were either watering down their milk or skimming out the richer, more nutritious parts, leaving its consumers with an insipid white drink.

Then there were the drugs. It was Lasco Pharmaceuticals which spearheaded the importation of affordable generic antiretroviral drugs, which were a breakthrough but relatively expensive, life-preserving treatment modality for those who were suffering and dying unnecessarily from HIV/ AIDS, even whilst being stigmatised as having a gay-related disease. This Lasco-driven endeavour gave hope to the HIV-infected community and their loved ones.

We could go on to highlight the deserved and well-needed recognition given teachers and police officers through Lasco’s annual awards.

Chin knew what was right, did it, and defended it, even against Goliath-like opposition from large US drug manufacturers. We are witnesses to the impact of Chin and other like-hearted human beings, and we must continue to be so, so help us God.

Andre O Sheppy

St James

astrangely@outlook.com