Devon Dick

Happy New Year to all my readers. My New Year's wish is that the Honourable Bruce Golding, Prime Minister and the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, Opposition Leader, will demonstrate forgiveness for their own good; the good of their respective political party and for the benefit of the nation.

My understanding is that the Opposition leader and her party have declined to participate in Vale Royal talks because the Prime Minister said at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) annual conference in November that the PNP leadership's brain is infested with termites. Mrs. Simpson Miller might find the comments offensive and not prime ministerial; however there is still a place for forgiveness even if the Prime Minister fails to apologise.

This call for forgiveness is not to deny that she might feel aggrieved by another attack on her intellectual prowess, but is based on the premise that a lack of forgiveness can cause further pain both personally and professionally. To forgive is not to hold any grudge or feel hatred toward the one who has caused the offence. Therefore, it is possible for Mrs. Simpson Miller to still believe that the language was inelegant and unfair but still go to the talks. In fact, it would be a good opportunity for her and her team to display intellectual acumen as we seek collective wisdom to deal with the serious problems facing the country.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister as head of the Jamaican family has an onus to set the tone of forgiveness in this land. It is most regrettable, that the Prime Minister's objection to the appointment of professor Stephen Vasciannie as Solicitor General is based on a statement made years ago that referred to Golding as a 'dead cat'. To hold a grudge for all these years is not good. I would humbly suggest to Mr. Golding that if he feels that Stephen still holds that view then he should just remind him that a cat has nine lives.

The Most Honourable Edward Seaga had Karl Samuda back in the JLP and Karl even became the general secretary. Karl had said some very harsh things about Seaga. This demonstrated that Seaga did not act in a vindictive manner. Golding could take a leaf out of Seaga's book and forgive the comment.

A dangerous practice

This call to Golding is not a call for him to invite Stephen to his home or even to send him a Christmas card. It is a call not to object to Stephen if he is the best person for the job and can get the best out of the department. It is a dangerous practice to run the country based on personal feelings and hurts.

Forgiveness is an important issue. In a July 31, article 'Better to forgive than retaliate' I commended Mr. Golding when after the slaying of Sanjay Ebanks, JLP's office manager, he said, "every retaliation invokes a retaliation to that retaliation and there is no point in going that way." The 'dead cat' comment did not cost a life, so I think this situation makes it even easier for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not a romanticising of the problem. Neither is it an attempt to ignore the seriousness of the hurt nor a means of allowing the offender to get away. Forgiveness, as a process, seeks to follow the example of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, who forgave us all our sins. Forgiveness allows us to hate the offence while pardoning the offender.

The major motive for the high murder rate in Jamaica is the need for reprisals, in other words, lack of forgiveness. Therefore, it is important for the Prime Minister and the leader of Opposition to set the tone and demonstrate forgiveness in 2008.