Letter of the Day | What would we tell a student who behaved this way?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

When I saw and read that colleagues had to restrain Mikael Phillips during Tuesday’s exchange with Desmond McKenzie in the House of Representatives, I thought of the teacher who must face a classroom the next morning and explain why a student is expected to show more restraint than an elected representative. What answer do we give that teacher?

As a priest and pastor, and someone involved in the formation of teachers, I believe that what adults do in a moment of anger teaches young people more than any speech we deliver afterwards. We ask a student who feels provoked to take a breath, choose his words, and give the other person room to speak. Surely we can ask the same of those who speak for us in Gordon House.

I am grateful to those who intervened. It troubles me that their intervention was needed in the very chamber where Jamaicans have entrusted their representatives to work through difficult differences on our behalf.

Democracy needs members who will press a minister for an answer, challenge a ruling, and speak plainly when something is wrong. A constituent who sends a representative to Parliament has every right to expect that kind of courage. That constituent also deserves to hear the answer. Once colleagues have to step between two members, the question that mattered to the public can easily be lost.

I would welcome a word from Mr Phillips and Mr McKenzie about the exchange. Each can speak for his own part. Where an apology is owed, let it be offered plainly. And those of us looking on might ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Would our judgement of the incident change if the party colours were reversed?

I pray that our children will have a second lesson to take from Gordon House this week, for there is still a lesson here worth taking back to the classroom. A young Jamaican who sees a leader stand up in the House and say “I could have handled that better” will have seen something worth imitating.

REV. FR KINGSLEY ASPHALL

Holy Cross Catholic Church

Kingston