July 18, 2021

Karen Cecelia Cross
#authenticPNP

This is an open letter to Comrade Peter David Phillips

Dear comrade Phillips,

I have been meaning to pen this letter to you for a few weeks now. I have been hesitant….for obvious reasons.

I realized this morning after reading this week's church chronicle... that I have been overthinking it because I am being selfish.

Subconsciously, I am thinking about how it is going to reflect on me and my credibility, since nobody has been more critical of you,than me.

I have in the past been your most vicious critic. I have made my feelings known to you in many of my letters, and none of these letters were ever kind to you.

I therefore feel that it is all the more reason why I may be the most credible voice at this moment to say what I am about to say in this note, but as always, my letters are usually fuelled by that inner voice that I have no control over, (and don't want to)...most people call it conscience….I prefer to call it the need to do what is right, what is honorable, what is courageous.

I have never felt that I could not say what I want where you are concerned. I have always known that no matter what I said, or what I did...or how much my words hurt…..you would never treat me any less of a person….you would never harbor any hatred or vengeance driven vendetta against me…..I have always known there would not be any political backlash or attempts to shut me up,or destroy me.….

Without a doubt I have always known...because that's who you are...a genuine and true leader.

There are persons in your orbit who can attest to the fact that even after my letters, if I made a request of you, you responded like a leader should….with the kindness and character that is required.

I have always known that even when those around you encourage you to do anything out of character..you always quietly resist and that is not only extraordinary, it's noble.

You have had people around you who stayed with you through good times and bad….people who love you, and not because of anything you can do for them….that is the marking of a noble and extraordinary leader.

There is not a single thing in your public service record or your private life that suggests that you are not what we all know you are...

Committed, honorable, decent, courageous, fair, and noble.

An extraordinary public servant, a zealous and protective father and a faithful husband.

Memories:

You might remember the date, I don't....but at the viewing of Michael Manley's body at PNP HQ….you, me and comrade Paul Robertson were leaning against comrade Marjorie Taylor's car...in silence. (Comrade Robertson says it's his best memory of me).

I promise I won't tell anyone that you both were teary eyed. It was a poignant moment. Comrade Marjorie Taylor came out totally broken up at our loss, and without missing a beat, you dryly said.."Marjorie, yuh fraid to cry inside because Michael would get up and ask you if you don't have work to do". We all chuckled. It was what Marjorie needed, but most importantly, it was what we all needed in that almost private moment. Marjorie said. "Yuh right sah"...and we just leaned there. I will never forget it. Comrade Sonia G.

It was a great historical moment, and your words to Marjorie made it so. I hope you remember.

I remembered it because of the priest's message in the chronicle talking about times in our life when we miss a great moment because of selfishness.

In your grief, you thought about Marjorie. It was a natural thing for you. You felt it was your duty to comfort her, and inadvertently, you comforted all of us..

In 2011, I came to your office in New Kingston to collect a recommendation from you that would have helped me secure an overseas job.

We had a conversation about you taking up the role of campaign director in the upcoming elections. I was one of those who felt it was a set up against you.

You quietly but firmly assured me that even if it's a set up, you are bound by duty to your leader and your party….to do everything you can to ensure victory.

Of course I never thought of what you said as anything revelatory. It was a perfectly normal natural thing for you.

A true committed leader.

A part of my time in the leadership of the YO was when you were general secretary….you facilitated us in a way that no other general secretary can claim.

The YO leadership from that time can correct me if I miss anything, but it was you who not only gave us the charge to start a national mobilization program, but provided us the means to do so.

All of these memories led me to believe that….
It is in moments like these that we know what leaders are made of.

I believe we are on the cusp of another great moment and I feel a responsibility to do my part. I don't want to miss it because of selfishness.

Our party is in an existential crisis. It's a crisis of leadership, it's a crisis of man-made selfishness, lack of morality, a deep opposition to inclusiveness, to independence, to individualism, to dissent, to collective responsibility, to the democratic norms and ideals of Norman Manley, Michael Manley, PJ. Patterson, Portia Simpson Miller, and you.

This crisis has reached its natural tipping point and I fear it's about to send us into a spiral of permanent opposition benches for the rest of my lifetime.

We are a laughing stock in the parliament, we are a joke in the diaspora, we are a toy for the JLP and nobody in this country takes us serious. We need you.

It's against this background that I, Karen Cecelia Cross is asking you, pleading with you, in the name of my mother Audrey Naomi Yvonne Grant….

I am asking you to return and retake the reins of the opposition bench.

I am calling on comrades;

Phillip Paulwell
Julian Robinson
Anthony Hylton
Lisa Hanna
Morais Guy
Mikael Phillips
Denise Daley
Natalie Neita Headley
Hugh Graham
Lothian Cousins
Fit Jackson

To reinstate comrade Peter Phillips as the opposition leader..Now.

I am asking you comrade Phillips, on behalf of thousands of PNP comrades across Jamaica, and all-over the diaspora to step forward and spend a little more time to bring some stability and sense of purpose to our movement.

We are all rooting for you thousands upon thousands.

I know that this is your sunset years, and you are taking care of your health and getting some much needed rest, but, your party needs you. Your country needs you. I promise you, you won't have to stay a long time...just enough to get us settled. Enough to make us relevant and respected again.

Please step forward. I guarantee you, you will be joyously received.

Comradely,

Karen Cecelia Cross