THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS PAST week has been good for Jamaica. Despite the numerous murders and the frustration and hopelessness many of us still feel, there was some amount of light in all that darkness.
The Mayor of Spanish Town has resigned. While no cause for celebration and as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) I am aware of the possible political repercussions, and in light of the controversy, it was the right thing to do. I do not plan to sit here and condemn the Mayor but the allegations about beating his wife are serious ones, following other reported incidents of the Mayor being involved in physical acts of assault. Also, the Mayor's vehicle has been confiscated by the police in what, at the very least, could be an embarrassing situation. I do not have any answers and I offer none, but I dare say, situations like those must be frowned upon.
I do hope, too, that many Jamaicans will publicly laud the wife of the Mayor for refusing to allow herself to become a victim or continue to be a hapless victim of domestic abuse. Women should follow her lead, for while the Mayor's resignation is an act of moral leadership so too is that of his wife, Mrs. Notice.
Another moment of glory this past week was the action by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lucius Thomas. For many years under Francis Forbes, I begged for this kind of leadership. Leadership without fear or favour. Leadership that was prepared to do the right thing and stand up no matter how difficult. People need to understand that it is always difficult to make those tough calls and the Commissioner followed up his accusations with actions, and I hope if the evidence is there that the court system will follow through as well. Who knows? This may be a new beginning for Jamaica.
I, who, have watched as politicians make excuses for their peers and as the government continues to fail in offering us leadership, I begin to feel just a little bit better and maybe, just maybe, I may not need this visa after all. Let's see.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD BRUCE MALCOLM
bruce_26@hotmail.com
Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
