The GG and the Casino Bill
Published:Friday | May 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
Gary Spaulding's article 'Casino Bill stumps GG', published on May 2, was poorly researched. Please permit me to make some corrections.
Sir Patrick Allen indeed is a former president of Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. However, he was serving as president of West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists when he was asked to serve as governor general. Second, Pastor Derek Bignall (not Dennis) serves as president for the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists.
With that out of the way, allow me to comment on the GG's perceived moral dilemma, the signing of the Casino Bill. The article's headline seems to suggest that the GG was stumped, as in a game of cricket. Let's assume that the ball bowled is the Casino Bill, the bowler, the house of representative/senate, and wicketkeeper, Sir Patrick's detractors.
Should I assume that there is a conspiracy or plot to get out the GG from his position as head of state, or for the GG's Christian moral values to be called into question? Up to the point of writing this letter, I have not received a report that the bill has been signed by the GG. So I cannot agree that GG has been stumped. What I can say is that an ominous ball has been bowled at him. He now has to observe the nature of the delivery and determine how he would play the ball.
the options
If he observes the ball well and feels that he should allow it to pass through to the keeper (that is, not to sign it), it will end back up in the hands of the bowler. If he decides to play the ball, he has to pull on the strength within and without (human and divine natures).
If he misses or edges (giving assent), then no doubt he will stumble and fall, and if the keeper is agile enough he may get him out. However, if the ball connects to the 25 per cent of the bat surface (biblical faith), then it should be out of the park never to be recovered for play.
My prayer for the governor general is that he plays well for his God, family and country.
I am, etc.,
R. K. SPENCER
Mandeville