Dear Editor,

When the Jamaica Labour Party took office in February of this year, I was pleased to see that Ruel Reid was made minister of education. I have had first-hand experience of his skills as an educator and administrator. I know that he is bursting with ideas and strategies along with the talent to improve the education system.

Then I realised that he was also given the information ministry. I wondered if he was going to be given the chance to effectively make his mark in his core field.

In no time I realised that my fears were on target.

Reid, a distinguished Jamaican, is being portrayed as a comic figure by the cartoonists, because it is clear to any keen observer that many times when he has to go to a press briefing he is either rushing from another meeting, with no time for a proper briefing, or the Government does not have a proper system of disseminating information, even to the responsible minister.

It is painful for us who know him to sit by and watch this illustrious Jamaican have his reputation sullied in this way.

I feel sure that the prime minister can do better. I believe that there are more than enough ministers at Jamaica House who could relieve him of this other ministry, because we have neither seen nor heard from them, and the last time I heard from them they did not yet know what they would be doing. That means it is safe to believe that they are not doing it.

I don’t see the humour in any of it, and I implore the prime minister to do something about it. I would say to Reid: stand up for yourself. Do not allow the general public to get the impression that you are inept, that is not who you are.

It would be better if you resigned rather than lose the reputation that you worked so hard to build. It is not worth it.

Joy Charlton

joycharlton@yahoo.com