The Editor, Sir:

IN 1844, Benjamin Disraeli declared, "No government can be long secure without formidable opposition." I agree! Most humans can be persuaded or corrupted if the time and conditions are right.

On Sunday, September 16, I watched People's National Party (PNP) president the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller as she addressed members of her party. I needed to, as I was looking to her, to lead this kind of opposition in Parliament. The tone and tenor of her presentation was of concern to me. One got the distinct impression that Mr. Bruce Golding and his Cabinet had stolen her goats and her ground provisions and, unable to find redress anywhere else, she had decided to form a vigilante group to clobber them at the first sighting. As her address continued, I witnessed a bitter, angry, vengeful woman. She left no doubt in my mind that she felt she lost the election because of 'hanky panky' on the part of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Electoral Office of Jamaica, as well as large amounts of cash given to the JLP by 'criminals' and other questionable sources. No doubt she has made formal complaints to the relevant agencies as there are remedies for these kinds of abuses.

What I was looking for in my parliamentary Opposition was a keen and critical eye on the management of the resources we entrust to the Government, the monitoring of state agencies to ensure that the rights of citizens are preserved, and the ongoing exploration of new ideas that would ultimately make them look like a viabl One of the more chilling declarations of the Most Honourable Simpson Miller, curling her mouth for emphasis, was "I am going to be their worst nightmare!" The last time I heard these words, I was watching a particularly bloody movie and they were said by an out-of-control cop to a serial killer. The promised sleepless nights for the Cabinet is equally worrying. I think the PNP president misunderstood what we meant when we asked for a strong Opposition.

Another concern I have is the distortion of facts in the address. I think the Government made it abundantly clear that tuition fees and hospital fees would be abolished. To tell an already agitated crowd that free education and health care were promised and should be demanded, borders quite narrowly on mischief - dangerous, confusing, provocative mischief!

Three days after the election, I heard a young woman in Olympic Gardens assuring a group of confused friends that "Portia sey wi win!" - the nation is now made to understand that the present Government came to power with the help of tainted money and corrupt officials. And that"... it not over yet ..." Is this responsible leadership? What are potential investors thinking right now?

The scores of mourning relatives left in the wake of the election is clear testimony that we are a violent, pliable, unsophisticated people. What kind of signals are being sent to party fanatics? A powder keg has been placed in the middle of this country and the lid has been removed. If Mrs. Simpson Miller truly loves us, I am appealing to her to put away that box of matches I see in her hand.

I am, etc.,

GLENN TUCKER

Stony Hill

Kingston 9