If it was right, was it righteous?

The Editor, Sir:

I have listened and read Reverend Al Miller stating that what he did "... is right ... and right is always right ...". However, I ask the question: Is it better to be right than righteous?

Proverbs 21:2 states, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord weighs and tries the heart" (Amp).

A couple months ago, Reverend Miller was stoutly defending the prime minister's decision not to extradite Christopher Coke and even quoted from the Bible that a man should be tried in his own country (paraphrase). Yet, here he is found facilitating Mr Coke to go to the United States Embassy for him to be extradited to stand trial in the US.

He stated that he was acting as a mediator. The dictionary defines a mediator as "one who intervenes in a dispute to bring about an agreement or reconciliation" (Oxford, 2008, 11th edition). The 'dispute' is between two parties - Mr Coke and the police. If Reverend Miller was in fact a mediator, why did he not regard the concerns of the police?

Unfounded fears

I have heard a lot of people expressing the view that the goodly reverend's actions caused "Dudus to be alive" and "Al did what the police could not do", which was to find Dudus. In fact, even Reverend Miller appears to be endorsing such sentiments when he said "this part of the transformation ...". Now, the only way Reverend Miller can claim such is if he intentionally deceived Mr Coke to agree to take him to the embassy and later arranged with the police to capture him. But, as Commissioner Ellington said, no prior arrangements were made between Reverend Miller and the police.

It has been chorused that Mr Coke was afraid that he might meet the same demise as his father who died in a 'mysterious fire' while incarcerated. There are two important facts that make Mr Coke's fear unfounded and which Rev Miller should have been able to let him know, these are:

1) Mr Lester Coke died while in the custody of correctional officers not the police;

2) Most importantly, Commissioner Ellington stated that the police wanted Mr Coke alive. This was headlined in the print media.

By his own actions, Reverend Miller has contributed to the perception that the entire police force cannot be trusted.

Reverend Miller, I humbly submit the following recommendations to you:

1)Humble yourself and admit that although your intentions may have been good, you erred. Then, apologise to the security forces and the people of Jamaica.

2)Resign as director of the National Transformation Programme.

3) Take time out to earnestly seek the face of the Lord because our mandate is to "make disciples of all men" through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This I know is your 'first love'; return to it. You and I know that unless the heart of man is regenerated no real transformation can take place.

I am, etc.,

DANIEL DALEY

Kingston