THE EDITOR, Sir:Rev. Al Miller's involvement as a commentator on the TVJ debate on August 11, between the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and Mr. Bruce Golding is most unfortunate, The reverend should have declined the invitation for the following reasons.
First, his programme, which aired on TVJ 7:30 a.m., Saturday, August 11, featured a lengthy interview with Mr. Golding fielding questions and addressing issues similar to those debated. Mr. Golding in closing the Miller interview, noted that it was a rehearsal for Saturday.The pastor obviously pre-empted the commissioned debate, not withstanding the perception of an unfair advantage. Interestingly, Rev. Miller's fellow commentator on TVJ, Mr. Miguel Lorne, was right in his discernment that Mr. Golding seemed to have had a dress rehearsal for the debate.
Second, it is known that Rev. Miller has close links to Mr. Golding in his pastoral capacity as was presented in the media during Bruce's campaign for leadership of the JLP. Third, Rev. Miller, during a TVJ 'All Angles' declared his variance with and publicly upbraided Pastor Phillip Phinn regarding his prophecy that Portia Simpson Miller would be the next Prime Minister.Rev. Miller's score of 8.5 and favourable comments on Mr. Golding's presentation during the TVJ debate appears objective. But, in view of the foregoing, doesn't it raise questions of personal transparency and bias, even hypocrisy? Perhaps the lessons of James 1:5 need to be revisited. All of us men of God are constrained by His Word to be "blameless".
I am, etc.,
REV. DON McDOWELL
donmcdgodson@hotmail.com
