The Editor, Sir:

At the recently concluded Boys' and Girls' Championships held at the National Stadium, I sat beside the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller and I kissed her, or rather she kissed me, several times. I was struck by what appeared to be the genuine warmth of this lady and I couldn't help think that maybe she actually cares about Jamaicans.

When I saw her in Parliament as she delivered her maiden speech as opposition leader, there was fire in her belly as she rose to the defence of the poor. Unfortunately, Simpson Miller needs to understand that when Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous sang, Action, Not a Bag a Mout, it was an explicit criticism of those who say they will do, but do not.

Sticky fingers

Simpson Miller was prime minister for a little over a year and she did not take any positive steps to alleviate the suffering of the poor. She warned the prime minister not to increase the NHT interest rate, but not so long ago, she ignored him when he told her and those in her government not to put "their sticky fingers" on poor people's money.

The NHT is now in problems because of decisions that Simpson Miller, P.J. Patterson, and I daresay, the entire PNP, made.

What would have been an appropriate start to the opposition leader's speech is an apology to the poor for having spent so many years in government and the plight of those in the social underclass has got worse. She should be apologetic that her government introduced the general consumption tax, then increased it, along with a raft of other things that have burdened those who are most in need.

An apology to the poor

I have no difficulty in the Opposition championing the cause of those in need, for no one can deny that the true test of a civilised nation is how it treats those who are most vulnerable. However, before she begins to chastise the prime minister about the NHT and ask him to "Feel the tears of the mother and hear the cries of the hungry child ..." she should apologise to these mothers and hungry children, for surely, she too is to blame.

I am, etc.,

HAROLD BRUCE MALCOLM

bruce_26@hotmail.com

Publications director - Generation 2000

20 Belmont Road

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica