Consider the bigger picture

The Editor, Sir:

Those who would readily lash out at the Rev Al Miller, put yourselves in his position. The police call for a man to turn himself in, and the man calls you, a man of the cloth, and says he wants to surrender. Remember, you have proved your ability for 'safety' and trustworthiness in the way you have dealt with the 'don's' siblings, and this man thinks, "If I am going to turn myself in, I trust this churchman to ensure my life is at least safe."

Does the 'don' have reason to feel this way? Indeed, it is arguable that he would. If he is guilty of all the things of which he has been accused, there is no way he could have done these things without the involvement of some 'law-abiding' citizens, police and politicians, who either turned a blind eye, or benefited directly or indirectly from his shenanigans.

The intertwined relationship between criminal and civil Jamaica do not begin or end with this don. He is rightly worried that many people would prefer that he not have his day in court. Finally, let's also consider the unfortunate demise of his father and the many unanswered questions surrounding his death.

But I digress. The man feels you are trustworthy enough to bring him in, and he calls you and says, "The only way I will do this, is if you take me to the American embassy where I will feel safe. If you can't agree to do this, then I can understand, but otherwise, forget it." What would you do?

Solutions

List your top three solutions to this situation, which would bring him in without any further loss of life. Would you call the police, some of whom may want to kill him for personal reasons? (And do not even pretend his fears were unreasonable). Would you tell him, "No, I cannot do what you've asked, so you will have to stay on the run until you decide to go to the Jamaican police, because then, and only then will I be prepared to escort you." Then you would have had him in your grasp, so to speak, and then let him go! Would that be the most responsible thing to do? Let us ask ourselves: What is the most important thing that needed to happen here, in the national interest?

Rev Al put himself in a difficult situation for the betterment of the nation, and has been charged, and perhaps rightly so (from a legal perspective) for doing it. In any case, listen to the heart of the man who has cried out for change in the nation from the time you first heard (of) him; a man who has continually stood between the flying bullets (literally) of the law and the unlawful, and then tell me if he was trying to bypass the police and the 'law' just because he thinks, and intended to show he is bigger than the law! Is that consistent with his past actions in this situation? There has to be a bigger picture here!

I am, etc.,

AUDRENE KERR-BROWN

dreenie1@hotmail.com

Toronto, Ontario