PNP UK has formally written to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, urging him to revoke government contracts with UK company The Phoenix Partnership. This follows ‘egregious’ racist and misogynistic comments made by the company’s owner, Frank Hester, targeting MP Diane Abbott. The letter raises serious concerns about the integrity of sensitive health services provided to Jamaicans and the safety of Black women.

We are most deeply concerned with the recent allegation of racism widely made against Frank Hester, a major contractor of sensitive health services to the Government of Jamaica and the United Kingdom. Mr Hester who is the owner of The Phoenix Partnership, is widely reported to have said that looking at Diane Abbott makes you “want to hate all black women” and said the MP “should be shot”. The egregious comments attributed to Mr Hester not only appear to condone hatred of black women but outrageously implies the assassination of Diane Abbott, a black female Member of Parliament with strong Jamaica connections.

Diane Abbott’s plight and the nakedly racist and misogynistic comments seems embedded in medical practice and the health care afforded to black women who are amongst other unfortunate circumstances, four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women and are at greater risk of late diagnosis for cancer treatment.

It is widely known that algorithms inadvertently or otherwise riddled with racism and used to provide healthcare are harmful.

In the light of these circumstances you, your Health minister and your government will certainly understand the grave suspicion held of the health service when it is made known that sensitive medical services are being contracted to an individual to whom racist remarks have been attributed.

It is therefore unimaginable that you will not wish to take measures to prevent any harmful effect of algorithms inadvertently or otherwise riddled with racism and used to provide health services to Jamaica. Therefore as a matter of principle and even more pressingly to protect the health of black people in Jamaica, particularly women, it is most strongly suggested that the services provided by The Phoenix Partnership owned by an alleged racist and misogynyst be revoked.

It is further suggested that protocols are established to ensure that imported software algorithms and other systems are not harmful. In addition protocols should be put in place to reduce the threat that imported algorithms pose to the welfare and interest of black people, particularly women, seeking care from the Jamaica Health Service.

Urgently taking these measures will simultaneously bolster the government’s credibility whilst also allay building fears about the veracity of Jamaica’s Health Services.

More broadly the alleged perpetrator, of what is now widely regarded as racist and misogynistic nakedness may have also agitated those who already harbour deep, dangerous and violent visions fed by their irrational hatred of black women.

You will understand that these allegations imbued with the incitement to violence, the hatred of black women and the call to assassinate a black woman are especially dangerous. The 2016 assassination of the British MP, Helen Cox, illustrates the tragic outcome of incitement to violence.

Against this background you may wish to offer your support to Ms Abbot and other UK members of parliament of Jamaican origin whose lives are now endangered.

Members of the Jamaica diaspora, particularly women at this stage, are also feeling the fear of racist attacks as a consequence of the call to arms comments attributed to Mr Hester. At this stage the Jamaica diaspora in the UK would greatly benefit from your unprecedented public declaration of concern and support.

We appreciate your attention to these most urgent matters, confidently and keenly looking forward to the action you take.