The Action Committee of Church Women United of Jamaica, affiliated with the Jamaica Council of Churches, calls on Minister of Local Government, Bobby Mon-tague, to recognise that he has contravened the protocol laid down for corrective counselling of employees and is required to apologise.

We recognise the anxiety of the minister to agitate for improvement of care in all public-sector agencies and further recognise that employees in these institutions work under challenging circumstances. In light of this, we urge the minister to reflect on the way in which he deported himself in the public domain as he responds to the myriad challenges that will continue to affect care delivery in the social sector.

Not too late

It is not too late for Minister Montague, however 'irate', to utilise and capitalise on his effective leadership skills and seek to follow the example of Jesus in the Bible as the public sought to stone to death the woman caught in adultery. Jesus extended compassion and redemptive powers to restore the woman. He further demonstrated this by writing his non-verbal script on the ground with his fingers while admonishing, "He who is without sin cast the first stone."

The Church Women United has every confidence that the minister will rise above the self-aggrandisement 'Backra Massa syndrome' and exude a reflective spirit which demonstrates that he is a real minister of local government.

There is no need for that kind of disrespect, minister. You have appropriate power to institute sanctions.

I am, etc.,

EDITH

ALLWOOD-ANDERSON

Chairperson

Action Committee,

Church Women United

of Jamaica