Donald Trump’s playbook

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WHILE FOLLOWING goings-on in both Jamaica and the USA, I cannot help noticing a similarity between the actions of our prime minister and President Trump.

A few weeks ago, President Trump was attempting to scare the US electorate with wild accusations against migrants heading towards the USA to seek refuge, calling them criminals and terrorists, threatening them with bullets and detention, and many other things that are against American and international law and the American constitution. These calls were defended by his hand-picked but inexperienced ‘gang’, claiming that their party is strong and that the opposition Democrats would allow all these criminals into the country.

SIMILAR REMARKS

Just weeks later, we have Mr Holness making similar wild remarks about some of the persons held under the states of emergency here, labelling them criminals and violent and persons who should be held in custody. Again, this is trying to scare the people into supporting long detention without charge, suspending people’s constitutional rights because ‘we’ decide they are guilty. Again, Mr Holness is supported by a handpicked, inexperienced group who do not appear to see the dangers of suspending due process, but are using the fear factor to score political points.

I do hope using President Trump’s playbook is not a trend that Jamaica will follow for too long. Mr Holness should note that it does not look like it is ending well up there.

STEPHEN HODGES

PO Box 597 Kingston 10