LETTER OF THE DAY - Shameful political shenanigans
Published:Tuesday | December 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
Even the pretence has now been abandoned. The Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) only concern is remaining in power. We have seen all manner of gymnastics toward this end, but it is the recent North East St Ann matter that sticks in the throat. If I held a higher opinion of our two major political parties, I might even have permitted myself some surprise at some of their shenanigans. In North East St Ann, the JLP is sticking it to the people.
Can this be the same JLP and Shahine Robinson who wantonly abused the Constitution and the courts over the dual-citizenship issue? Lest we forget, her party put her forward as its candidate for North East St Ann in the 2007 general election, shortly after she became a US citizen. Did her party not know this? Was it not aware of the constitutional provisions against just this situation? What did it do when it became aware of her status? That's easy. Nothing!
When her matter was making its way through the courts, did her party persuade her to come clean? Another easy one. No! When she was actually removed as MP by the courts, did she or her party finally concede that the jig was up? No, siree! They employed all manner of legal manoeuvres, ending with her reinstatement as member of parliament. Obviously, the strategy continued to be, "to hell with the Constitution!"
Then it hit the fan. A few months later, she was confronted with irrefutable evidence of her sworn allegiance to a foreign power. It was only then that she threw in the towel, declining to even mount a defence. Can you believe that? After all that had transpired, she did not even mount a defence! Did her party, in deep embarrassment at her deceptions, remonstrate with her for thus tarnishing its image? Very funny! Its response is to reward her for her valiant fight for the party's interests by putting her up as its standard bearer in any by-election in the constituency. On what basis do we believe that the governing party has the national interest close to its heart?
Lest the Opposition People's National Party be unduly tempted to mount moral high horses, they need to answer a simple question: Was Ian Hayles under sworn allegiance to a foreign power at the time of his nomination in 2007? This should be an easy one, but I'm not holding my breath.
I am, etc.
MICHAEL R. NICHOLSON
Kingston 6