THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM one of those who wanted Mrs. Simpson Miller to be elected president of the PNP and become Prime Minister of Jamaica. I wanted an opportunity to see how and where she would lead the country. I must admit that I was very optimistic too, but with a measure of caution.
Having observed her be-haviour thus far, I am not convinced that she will do much good for the country. It is obvious that she has learnt a lot about politics and how to win elections, but not much about what is urgently needed to help our country realise its full potential. To have her finance minister attempt to deceive the nation into giving her govern-ment unbridled power to use the nation's trust funds as they see fit is an affront to the people's intelligence.
Similarly, the Prime Minister's obvious attempt to manipulate churchgoers into voting for her by claming divine appointment and declaring that pastors must be appointed to boards is equally disrespectful. Her actions and misguided declarations are dangerous and place religious freedom on rocky ground. Following her logic, should the Rastafarian, the Jew, the Hindu, the Muslim, the occult groups also have representation on these bodies?
By agreeing to Dr. Davies' proposal and by pursing this reckless church and state alliance, coupled with the grand tried and failed micro enterprise pork barrel schemes being touted, I have personally lost confidence in Mrs. Simpson Miller as a leader of our nation at this time. I think she should now be given an opportunity to serve as Opposition leader before we give her a full-term from which the country may never recover.
I am, etc.,
JOSEPH PATTERSON
joseph.patterson@sympatico.ca
Brampton, Ontario
Via Go-Jamaica
