I am not afraid to let my opinions be known

22.AUG.08

Editor: When I heard that I made the local TV news (photograph and all), and when I saw my photograph and a headline that accompanied the story which read: Vincentian controversial Police Officer discharged from the Bermuda Police Service, my heart was filled with a sense of pride.{{more}} This sense of pride came for the following reasons:

The papers pointed out some of the qualities that make me unique. In order for one to be controversial, one has to be ambitious, honest, an independent thinker and courageous. I will be the first to admit I am controversial. I am a man with an opinion and I am not afraid to let my opinions be known, even if my opinion differs or does not support the views and opinion of whomever.

That the press has recognized my newly found status in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and in Bermuda, a status I have embraced, one that I love.

That I have been elevated from the simple neighborhood and street corner gossip to that of a headliner, to breaking news story that went on for over a week.

The fact that I was not accused of pushing, smuggling or offering drugs to any one’s children.

The fact that I did not steal or get in trouble for any act of dishonesty.

The fact that I made the news for displaying strength, integrity, honesty and courage.

But most of all, I am still a practical example of my parents and God’s expectation; and this is what those who oppose me would love to and attempt to rob me of; but they can’t take that away from me.

It is no secret that I am a man who loves attention, but I am very selective of the type of attention I am associated with. I must admit I basked in the attention of all the phone calls, the MSN contacts and emails from all of my friends and acquaintances and from people I never expected support from. They ranged from police officers, politicians, community and religious leaders, but most of all the ordinary man form St. Vincent, Bermuda and other countries.

There is no hiding the fact that there are going to be three groups of people expressing their opinion on what they perceived happened. There will be those who will rejoice over what they considered my down fall. There will be those who are going to support me no matter what, and there will be those who could not care one way or the other about me and the events that surrounding me.

Let me take this opportunity to thank Ralph Gonsalves, George Jackson, Randy Liverpool and Mike Jackman:

For giving me another opportunity to motivate other people like me who just needed an example (my example) to find their strength to be an objective voice regardless.

For affording me the opportunity to show my children and all of the children I have ever mentored: those who participated in my programmes “the Adventurers hikers”, “Read and have Fun” or the “Big Brother, Big Sister programme”; but most of all, the children of Bottom Town whom I hope from my example will learn and understand that they can become a news headliner for being positive, strong, courageous and honest, virtues, which once cultivated, no one can take away from you no matter how hard they try. But most of all, I hope they learn from my examples how to make the stumbling blocks others place in your way into stepping stones, and that life’s obstacles should not take your destiny from the grasp of your hands.

It is my only wish to teach those who look up to me how to be strong. This strength is displayed in my writings at http://crushingfools.blogspot.com

Allan H.F. Palmer