As a potentially devastating hurricane churned towards the island, and with Jamaicans bracing for the worst, our puerile politicians found time to indulge in their favourite sport — childish squabbling amounting to much ado about nothing.

We must ask how much will it take for parliamentarians to figure out that there is no time more crucial for Jamaicans to be united than when faced with imminent danger to life and limb, and economic damage that could set us back severely?

If Tropical Storm Melissa impacts us, as most forecasts seem to suggest, the torrential rains will not fall on one man’s housetop. And it will not be asking who voted Jamaica Labour Party or who supported the People’s National Party, because it is no respecter of persons.

This is the time when Government and Opposition leaders should together be marshalling the country’s resources and mobilising the people to put our best foot forward to face the angry winds and floods that typically accompany such tumultuous events.

Instead, we see a bunch of grown men and women — apparently still seething from their fractious election campaign — duking it out over their joint responsibility for seeing to the drains and other storm-related activities to help make our people and country safe.

Frankly, House Speaker Mrs Juliet Holness proved absolutely precipitous in muting the microphone of the Opposition Leader Mr Mark Golding, who was supporting Opposition speakers asking questions about disaster preparedness in their constituencies.

Specifically, the St Mary South Eastern Member of Parliament (MP) Mr Christopher Brown raised concerns about contractors reportedly refusing to do critical work due to outstanding payments, but was muted mid-question by Mrs Holness, the wife of the prime minister.

The speaker insisted that all questions must directly relate to a statement on the storm by Minister Matthew Samuda, who has responsibility for national disasters. Mrs Holness received the unhelpful support of Minister without Portfolio Robert Morgan, who unwisely called Mr Brown’s line of questioning “dangerous”.

The St Mary MP had every right to ask such a question, especially if there is any truth to his claim that contractors were refusing to work because of non-payment of money for work done. This could affect emergency work ahead of the storm.

Yet, we do not see how all that could justify a walkout by the Opposition, worse at a time like this. To not be in the House when critical decisions are being made about an impending danger could be seen as a dereliction of duty. Mr Golding should have chosen the moral high ground.

Meantime, we wish to join Minister Samuda in urging Jamaicans to pay attention to all bulletins and advisories and to take every precaution possible to make themselves as safe as possible.

“While we hope that Tropical Storm Melissa will spare our island significant impact, as it appears it may, we must prepare for the worst, even as we pray for the best,” he said, noting that its proximity to Jamaica demands the highest level of vigilance.

“As we have learned through experience, tropical systems of this nature can shift course with little warning, and even indirect impacts can bring significant disruption to lives and livelihoods and property,” he added.

We endorse this message.