Dear Editor – Allow me space in your column to kindly respond to article published by Jude Kaefia on the above subject in your paper published on 2nd December, 2016.
While I respect Jude’s freedom of expression and scrutiny role on the elected Member for Ward 18, it is dispiriting indeed to see Jude thrillingly publicizing a non-substantiated issue in the media.
I am afraid this will only mislead the wider public, but an action I perceive as, “not genuine execution of the scrutiny and oversight role but a pure character assassination”.
The tone of Jude’s article reflects a fervent concern citizen and a punter of Ward 18 who stood up for the silence to express himself through the media, but such a negative one!
The content of the article is more of irony to covey contempt and using media with intend to extort the reputation and character and down-play the integrity of one of the East Kwaio’s respected leaders; a humble leader so charitable, altruistic, humane and benevolent who being innocently singled out for issues that holds no ground(s) in Kwaio custom is an embarrassment and painful disillusioning.
In reading through the article, the question that first pop up my mind is is; why would Jude publicly write to the media on issues that cannot be authenticated?
What is his interests behind this? During the meeting as mentioned in his article, the issues alleged was not substantiated to breach any offence in custom at all, however it is one based on misunderstanding and cynicism.
Therefore, to come out to the media and to mention that the leader of ward 18 had involved in “sex scandal” as quoted from your article is purely frenetic and hilarious?
Why would you raise issues that cannot be substantiated and holds no truth in it?
This is worrying me so much, you could be stepping into a land mine for defaming someone’s character.
I tried to figure out your intention for this media rhetoric, and it may be something that borne out of personal grudges, antipathies and resentment against the current ward 18 leader, who knows only you can tell your intention for publication of this article.
If it is, then there are proper process and avenues to consult and iron out differences but rather not to use the media as the avenue to publicly expose the eccentricity of a brother, family member and our leader!
I find this weird and this is not our “Kwaio Way” and not the way our fathers and forefathers resolve issues. Think again brother!
Please, free yourself from the concept of democracy or political democracy and media politics, it is a foreign flower and cannot fit well with our Kwaio culture, let’s not adopt this, it cannot work for us for culture and political democracy cannot work together.
Let’s not allow media forum and media politics taken over our rich cultural ways of resolving differences.
We are brothers and let the spirit of our brotherhood upheld by our fathers and forefathers keeps us together still and forevermore.
I discourage such media approach Jude, come let’s reason things together in a more brotherly way and work together for the better developments of Ward 18. Peace!
Willie Martin
Honiara
