Questions for Bruce

The Editor, Sir:

Please publish as an open letter to the prime minister:

Dear Prime Minister,

There are some of us who pray for you daily and for the onerous task you have to bear. We daily ask God's wisdom and enlightenment for you as you tackle our country's problems. We accept the scriptural injunction to pray for you, as you have been raised up of God to lead Jamaica at this time. We believe that you are honestly trying to discharge your responsibilities to the best of your ability for the greater good of Jamaica.

But, sir, we find ourselves in a dilemma. We want to believe that, in the handling of the 'Dudus' extradition request and in the Manatt affair, your motives were pure, even if your actions seem to say otherwise. We are also willing to accept that, while you may have obfuscated when asked in Parliament about your involvement, you did not, at any time, deliberately lie to the Jamaican people.

But we are left with a nagging unanswered question: What was your real intention in fighting the extradition request for so long? Who or what were you really trying to protect?

Given your protestations of the past and your many proclamations on the nexus between politicians and crime, we find it hard to accept the accusations of the many detractors that you were trying to protect 'Dudus' from extradition; that you were 'hugging up a criminal' because of his political value to your party or constituency; or because you believed him to have been without guilt in regard to the accusations against him.

While we struggle to continue believing in your integrity, truth-fulness and trustworthiness, you have not given us enough clear and unambiguous explanations to remove our questions and doubts. There is a vacuum of truth that is blocking our understanding of your motives and actions.

We have even accepted your apology of May 17 and your subsequent statements concerning the reasons for your actions, but feel that you can still level with your friends - the Jamaican people - more fully. There are still things and reasons you have failed to explain to us: Why did you do it? What was the main reason behind your actions? What were you really trying to protect?

Please give us your fullest and best explanation in order to remove our doubts and to restore our confidence and faith in you and the policies of your Government. We need to be taken completely into your confidence.

I am, etc.,

LLOYD A. COOKE

lcookemia@cwjamaica.com