Dear Editor,

With all the contentions stirring up in the People’s National Party (PNP) and the consequent criticisms about its choice of certain candidates to represent it in the next general election, we must not forget that even people of noble character and intentions, such as Jesus, lost massive portions of their support in just a moment of truth.

In the case of Jesus, only 12 disciples out of about 70 remained in one such instance. The severing of significant intra-party relationships, which, by extension, challenges the authority of PNP leader Mark Golding, has overshadowed his passion for and duty to the Jamaican people, such as the good work which he has done for residents around and dependents on the Rio Cobre in sponsoring its restocking of fish recently. Unfortunately, good work has its negative implications and misrepresentations.

In a biblical scene, Jesus was drenched with the sweet smelling, expensive spikenard ointment by a contrite woman. It was frowned upon by onlookers, especially Jesus’s eventual betraying disciple Judas Iscariot. However, it meant the world, and was well worth it, to this woman and also much to Jesus as He made it a marked memory for her. Likewise, Golding will draw ire for the good work that he has done. And there are those who will contend, and have contended, that their proposed alternative good is more prudent and justified than his, but such was Judas’s seemingly noble suggestion that the “wasted” spikenard ointment could have been sold and the money from its sale be donated to the poor, but coming from a corrupt heart.

As a predominantly Christian country, people often remark that “God is good.” However, we seem to make this claim as if we have the authority to do so. Of course, it is a form of praise, but supposing that we turn it around and exclaim, “Good is God.” This would mean that we cannot separate God from anything that is good. Howbeit that we have politicians belonging to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) who seize any opportunity to claim glory for their party or party leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Perhaps the Rio Cobre would not have been restocked as quickly if it were left up to the JLP, because the JLP needed the anger of the people and a sense of its culpability in this repeated travesty to diminish, and also quite likely was waiting until near election to rescue the Rio Cobre fisherfolk and residents.

The question of Golding’s role in the restocking of the Rio Cobre came up, with some disputing the part he played in this badly needed effort. The JLP soon realised that it would have shot itself in the foot if they pursued this line of argument and eventually retreated to “the need for communication, consultation, and consensus” from the PNP when taking on such projects. But what would that mean? Political meanderings resulting in another 12 months to offer the people the help they needed from last year?

Just as Jesus responded to the criticism of the authorities, with the obvious truth of being the divine saviour of the people, Golding must remain steadfast in the fact he was chosen to rescue Jamaica from bowing and pledging allegiance to tyrants, hypocrites, and betrayers of the people.

Andre O Sheppy

St James

astrangely@outlook.com