I think the Government, through Prime Minister Golding, should apologise to the nation, Derick Latibeaudiere, former governor of the Bank of Jamaica, and Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, commissioner of police, who leaves office on Friday, November 6, for its absolutely ungracious termination of their services, the latter by expulsive conduct by words spoken to the gentleman amounting to unjustified reprimand.

How can the Government, manifestly inconsistent with the laws of this country on the question of termination of employment, terminate the governor's contract because of the remuneration he receives from the said government pursuant to a contract? Why should his emoluments have anything to do with the emoluments of the boss of the US Federal Reserve who is clearly underpaid having regard to the rewards of his counterparts in the private sector and his awesome responsibility?

Cannot deny

In any case, I do not think it is even politically fair to inflame the minds of the uninformed and often underpaid on the grounds of gross income without any reference to net income, which is far less than gross income and much less than that of some leaders in the private sector earn, although some do not demonstrate that their performance is up to that of the former governor, who is entitled to at least A+ for his performance, which the Govern-ment cannot deny.

In fact, the said Government has praised him for his performance, condoned and ratified by conduct (payments and otherwise) since it came to power. I think he was dismissed because he, as a technocrat, not a politician, was doing too well, the very work he was employed to do, which could not accommodate promises most politicians make to spend that which neither they nor the country can afford.

We can only hope that the new governor does not allow politicians to dictate to him. Tomorrow is another day.

I am, etc.,

OWEN S. CROSBIE

oss@cwjamaica.com

Mandeville, Manchester