Golding's failure of judgement

THE EDITOR, Sir:

MANY COMMENTATORS have focused on Bruce Golding's supposed 'confession' and their willingness to forgive him. I think the following:

1. Golding may be forgiven for the initial lying, I suppose, but the further spectacular failure in judgement when he announced that the extradition papers were to be signed, cost lives, and that's unforgivable. What a blunder! The loss of the life of Sergeant Wayne Henriques and over 70 other Jamaicans is quite directly attributable to that awesome error.

2. It is a serious indictment of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the country, if there is no alternative leader in its ranks. It is immaterial that Golding has now "taken on the gangs", if the announcement allowed the target to escape, and his behaviour indicates a greater willingness to live with the gangs as long as he does not have to pay a political price.

3. Breaking a stop sign and murder are both infractions, but they don't have the same moral or legal status. Beating a person badly and murder may be close, but they are not the same either. The People's National Party (PNP), it is said, is not innocent. It is not. But it is sloppy thinking, and hasty over-generalisation that could ever cause someone to conclude that the PNP and the JLP are in the same boat regarding garrisons. What part of the country of Jamaica, dominated by the PNP, is impervious to police penetration? I await your response on that one.

4. It is not true that Golding is the first and only one to "take on the gangs". When Dr Peter Phillips was the national security minister there was demonstrable action against dons, carried out without the lurching irresponsibility of Golding.

I am, etc.,

Delroy Sangster

USA