Dear Editor,

The current Jamaican Government seems to want no criticism. If you dare to criticise, you are either labelled as talking “foolishness” or “tearing down Jamaica”. Those are words that were used in recent speeches when reacting to criticism of the Government’s performance since Hurricane Melissa.

I believe Beenie Man was not wrong to question the distribution of relief funds since Melissa. Beenie Man has been a musical ambassador for this country and should not be labelled as not loving Jamaica because he asked for accountability.

Our prime minister’s recent behaviour looks way too much like someone setting himself up to be a dictator. Starting to accuse people of not loving the country is usually one of the starting points. Consolidating power as he has done by the many ministries he leads is another. Putting trusted lieutenants in key positions like he has done is yet another. And his new effort to purge the public sector of those he alleges is sabotaging his agenda is the latest in a series of dangerous steps being taken by the prime minister.

There is a well-known playbook employed by Victor Orban in Hungary that is currently at play in the USA and some right-wing South American countries. We would be wise to examine how some of those duly elected leaders gradually employed the same Orban tactics we are seeing from our prime minister as precursors to their dictatorial attempts.

If Jamaica does not pay attention, and gives this Administration a fourth term, watch out!

If this country needs more evidence of where we are headed, we should all examine how Jamaica has voted or abstained at the UN on issues related to the condemnation of Israel, and more recently on the issue related to the US embargo on Cuba. Those two abstentions were basically tacit support for the world’s two latest wannabe dictators.

Before most countries plunge into dictatorships, the citizens usually think, ‘No it can’t happen here’. Jamaica you have been warned.

Shakey Williams

shakeywilliams2022@gmail.com