Jamaica Observer

Dear Sir,

I took my seven-year-old son to the Bustamante Hospital for Children at approximately 8:00 pm on Holy Thursday because of headache and fever. At 6:00 pm on Good Friday he was finally confirmed with meningitis and was admitted to a ward — a whopping 22 hours after arriving.

Fortunately for us, our nine-year-old, who had the same symptoms, only had to wait eight hours the following day before being admitted to a different ward at the hospital. It was quite an experience to have your two children at the same hospital on different wards.

My point of writing, however, is that somewhere around 2:00 am on Good Friday morning, while I sat outside the ward waiting, I wondered what would happen if I saw smoke coming from the roof of one of the buildings. The adult population at that hour appears to be 99 per cent female, which includes doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, security guards, and parents. What would happen to the children who were confined to beds and not able to move? Where would everybody assemble? There was so much to consider at the time.

Then I thought of what I would do as a first responder. I looked around for alarm panels, but there were none. On second thought it made sense not to have a loud siren awakening children at that hour; it would only lead to panic and chaos. I did see a fire hydrant in front of the ward, but could not locate where the valve or the special wrench for opening it was located. I did not see the hoses, either. It sort of felt scary.

I became somewhat relieved when I realised that the JDF Up Park Camp was next door, with probably thousands of soldiers asleep. I sincerely hope that whatever response plan exists for such an eventuality, whether day or night, it will involve hundreds of soldiers flooding the facility, some to immediately take on the fire while others will help to secure the children and other critical equipment and assets. Having alarm panels installed at the hospital, with special sirens that go off at the JDF, seems like a good idea to me.

Throughout the days as I walked from the wards to the parking lot I observed the readiness of the facility and there definitely is some work to be done in that critical area of safety.

Keith Whyte

klwhyte@yahoo.com

A nightmare waiting to happen

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Dear Editor,

I am a Portlander living in Canada who has a challenge with the recent increase in property taxes.

Every once in a while governments increase taxes to obtain more revenue to service the needs of the country. But the near 300 per cent that was levied by the present Administration does not seem sensible.

What's more, I accessed my land tax info online and received differing data from the tax office. The letter sent to me from my local collections arm of the Inland Revenue (Tax Administration Jamaica) has a $5,000 difference from the information given to my designate when she visited the Kingston office. Something has got to be terribly wrong.

I recall that motorists suffered a similar situation recently when records of their status on traffic tickets did not always show the true position.

The government ought to be concerned about the well-being of the citizensp; however, these shenanigans seem as though the interest is in dealing with the extremely high-debt situation that successive governments have created.

We need to let let our voices be heard because citizens cannot afford to assume these increases and suffer from inefficiency.

B Francis

Portland

Land tax mess

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Dear Editor,

Gone are the days when a conductor on the infamous Coaster buses would request that his passengers "five-up" and "rock ova pon di seat". As if that didn't already make for uncomfortable journeys, the current slangs include "draw up yuh back" and "no seat nah drop inna di channel".

Every morning thousands of Jamaicans are fighting to get to work in less than humane circumstances. Not only is a fellow passenger leaning uncomfortably close to you, but passengers are also assaulted by a potpourri of bad breath, green arm, frowsy weave, and offensively cheap colognes, just to get to the hustle.

I've never felt particularly close to my ancestors. I've read the history, I've watched the movies, but I have never been inclined to join in futile protests for redress. But each morning I am hauled backwards by my thoughts of the Middle Passage as I suffocate and squeeze and push my way into buses to get to work.

It's nothing compared to urinating and defecating on oneself for months on end or bleeding to death, but each morning Jamaicans lose a little more of themselves dressed in their costumes to perform at levels that are higher than reasonable to keep an unsustainable economy afloat. How much dignity do we give up each day to make it to work on time? I know if I find my nose buried under another armpit I might break down in tears.

Someone once said that the majority of adults in Jamaica are suffering from some form of mental illness or other, but really, do you blame us? Every morning after my clean uniform is sweated on and crushed by the bodies I've pressed up against I still hop off the bus and bellow "thank you, driver" for services inadequately rendered in the hopes that one day when I'm desperately late he will still pick me up even though the bus cyaan tek a message.

Olivia Maxwell

Sheena_maxwell@hotmail.com

One stop, driver

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Dear Editor,

In recent days the minister of national security has made statements that have caused much talk in the political and social arenas of Jamaica, and understandably so. But I want to sincerely ask if Jamaica has become so intolerant and modern that the mere mention of divine intervention would spark such national debate.

I find it rather astonishing that we, as a Christocentric nation in this Western Hemisphere, would call for the resignation of a minister of government for having admitted that we as a country need divine intervention.

It is a clear indication that, despite the efforts, initiatives and programmes by the ministry, and by extension the armed forces, something is really missing and that is the strong arm of the Lord, "for the arm of flesh shall surely fail".

I take you back to olden Israel and the operations of Government there. Israel was a nation in which all the kings were worshippers, as they were from the tribe of Judah which means worship. Any time a king moved the Israelites away from the worship of god, then they were brought into captivity, faced famine, drought and just about all things that were bad. But any time the king recognised the god of his fathers --Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph -- they prospered greatly. And I would like to think that that's exactly what Minister Bunting did. He recognised the necessity of the inclusion of God, coupled with the initiatives and human resources of the security forces to tackle this monster of crime.

Now more than ever the churches should call a national fast and not a national feast and approach the throne of grace for this island of Jamaica, and support the minister of national security in his recognition of the country's shortfall in leaving out God.

"...The best efforts by the security forces, by themselves, cannot deal with this crime situation, and as such we need divine intervention...," -- Bunting

Condolence to the minister in his time of bereavement.

Kemar Brown

Kemar.a.brown@hotmail.com

Bunting at the Wailing Wall

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Dear Editor,

Driving past a number of schools across the island I bemoan the state of the pedestrian crossings on which our children have to traverse on a daily basis. There are some schools without a pedestrian crossing, while most of the existing ones are barely visible. It is evident that the authorities have either turned a blind eye or have not done enough to address the problem. This is a cause for concern as the safety of our children is at risk.

Let us not have a repeat of the 2004 incident in which a Merl Grove High School student was killed while crossing Constant Spring Road to get to the school. As such, I am calling on the authorities and/or philanthropic organisations to act swiftly for the sake of our children. They must also ensure that adequate warning/school zone signs are erected in close proximity to these schools so as to guide the motoring public.

Furthermore, painting, and in some cases repainting, of pedestrian crossings on Labour Day (May 23) would make a worthwhile project. I sincerely hope that this appeal does not fall on deaf ears.

A Smith

ceoandre@aol.com

Our children cannot cross it

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Dear Editor,

Governments are not dysfunctional, they operate and deliver exactly what people ask of them. If the ends justify the means then use any means necessary in order to arrive at the end you desire. Therefore, if people require shops to start small businesses, cheaper alternative energy or highways, and the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) stands in your way, circumvent it. Also, why not set up your own rating agency? If there is an urgent need for money from a major source with a different mandate — let's say the NHT — change the laws and remove the funds; by the hook or the crook, let us achieve the end.

After nine days, people will stop running up their mouths and it will all be forgotten. If they continue, then you will need divine intervention.

When you do your annual check-up, and the doctor tells you that you have inoperable cancer, two months to live and no radiation treatment can help you, then you need divine intervention.

When you are coming down Spur Tree Hill and your brakes fail, then you need divine intervention.

When you are in an aircraft and collision with birds shuts down all your engines over the Hudson River, you don't need divine intervention, you need Captain Chesley Sullenberger.

Jamaica needs a minister of security, not a cry baby. We have too many things dependent on a secure and just society.

Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi, in 2012, said that Jamaica will find it difficult to attract direct investments from Japan if the island fails to curtail its crime problem. He said that Japan's investors will not consider investments wherever they think they are in danger of safety and security.

There is no chicken-and-egg situation, but there is a chicken-or-egg situation; which came first? Security and justice beats everything else; health, education, developing food security through agriculture all rank below a safe and secure nation. If you are dead nothing else matters.

Within minutes of the Boston bombings closed circuit television revealed the perpetrators. Minister Bunting, there are many other things to try; Dudus was just one piece of the puzzle. But if you are dead set on divine intervention, tell us; let us try Reverend Ronald Thwaites. He should have a more direct line to the Almighty.

Mark Clarke

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

By the hook or the crook, Amen

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Dear Editor,

Earlier this month TVJ's popular morning programme Smile Jamaica had a rather informative interview with a group of visiting United Kingdom-based surgeons. The thoracic surgeons were on the island to do volunteer surgery on some of the many Jamaican children who suffer from scoliosis.

However, as someone who is living with scoliosis, I was very much disappointed that towards the end of the interview the male co-host did the unthinkable. He got up from his chair and walked towards the table at the centre of the set and laid himself on it, and jokingly uttered that he too was suffering from scoliosis.

His female co-host was also very insensitive to what is an extremely important health issue affecting at least one per cent of the world's population. In fact, some 6 million people in the United States of America suffer from this medical condition which sees scores of people constantly in pain.

Scoliosis is the abnormal curving of the spine. While the normal spine has gentle natural curves, scoliosis typically causes deformities of the spinal column and rib cage. In scoliosis, the spine curves from side to side to varying degrees, and some of the spinal bones may rotate slightly, making the hips or shoulders appear uneven, and in some instances the child's head is not centred over his or her body.

Other signs of scoliosis include:

o One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other

o One side of the rib cage appears higher than the other

o One hip appears higher or more prominent than the other

o The waist appears uneven

o The body tilts to one side

o One leg may appear shorter than the other

It should be noted scoliosis is not linked to any physical impairment and the condition can occur in adults, but is more commonly diagnosed for the first time in children aged 10-15 years.

The condition also tends to run in families. Among persons with relatives who have scoliosis, about 20 per cent develop the condition. Eighty-five per cent of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic, which means there is not really a particular reason for why the spine doesn't grow straight.

While I do not think it was deliberate on the part of the co-hosts to poke fun at or be inconsiderate to the needs of those who have to live with this medical condition, we should, as a matter of principle, refrain from coming across as making jokes about any medical condition.

We clearly need to have more discussion on the topic of scoliosis in our local sphere in order to raise the level of awareness of this condition and create a more caring and gentler approach among our people. As a society, we should desist from giving jokes or poking fun at others whom we deem different.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com

Scoliosis no joke

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Dear Editor,

Many Jamaicans are ready to give up on their country, and I can well understand the frustration. Nevertheless, I am an eternal optimist and believe in the stimulating effect of renewal. Jamaica needs a rebirth. We need new leaders to emerge with new ideas and strong vision for development and growth of our nation.

I am recently retired, and frankly I believe it is time that people of my generation give up their ambitions and hand over power to a new generation. Our prime minister should hand over to Paulwell, or better yet Julian Robinson. The two Peters have shown great incompetence and it is clear that the Jamaican people would not embrace them as leaders. Paulwell has not articulated a broad vision for Jamaica, but he seems to have harboured ambitions to lead early in his career before his fairy tale fell apart. Since then he has recovered nicely in public opinion.

The JLP made the transition early to Holness, which was the right decision. He distinguished himself in education and I have heard his vision and like his style. However, he needs to be given a chance. Robertson, Vaz, Shaw, Tufton, and Montaque need to back off the internal machination and intrigue. The Jamaican public has not warmed to them, though they seem to believe otherwise. All of them have either lost their seats or were returned with significantly reduced margins. In fact, only Vaz has a vote margin near 500 coming down from 2,500. Aspirants must be comfortable in their seat before even thinking of running a country. Any exercise of power to destabilise the existing leader is self-serving and not in the interest of the country.

A new generation of politicians is not enough. The up-and-coming ones must not be mere clones of their predecessors. They must have high integrity and high intelligence to be able to manoeuvre our increasingly complex world. In this regard, Robertson, Vaz and Azan should leave the political scene quietly and save whatever dignity may be left in the public's mind for them.

The emergence of a new set of leaders will create more options for Jamaica; whether those leaders are in the PNP or the JLP. The current ruling generation are at the end of their cycle. They are more concerned with their own comfort. They will not do anything radical or take any risks. We need the bright, forward-thing and strong youth of the country to step forward; and we who may be wiser by years should support them from the pavillion.

C. Brown-Chambers

Gordon Town

Time for younger generation of leaders to emerge

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Dear Editor,

For years it has been argued that the Caribbean family structure is one that is "unstructured". This may be the result of us having diverse and always-emerging family patterns. The nuclear family is seen as ideal by many, but when you look at our reality there are many single-parent families; in most cases headed by the mother. What impact does this have on our youth development?

Needless to say, there are many impacts this may have on youth development. The positive side is that these single-parent homes may impact the children in a way that they may want to be the agent of change for their families. They, therefore, push to be the best in all they do to achieve their highest potential and ultimately become the star of that family.

The negative is that most mothers within single-parent families may be weak and are yet to develop assertive parenting skills of which their child or children may take advantage. This is indeed sad, as these children basically become their own parents and do whatever they like because there is no authoritative figure in their lives. These children may become a part of little cliques and succumb to negative peer pressure of substance abuse and start engaging in risky sexual encounters.

While we want to encourage nuclear family practices in our society, it must be noted that people will, in most cases, go against the norm. So even the growing practice of females becoming liberated and having children on their own, without a male being directly involved, must be taken into consideration.

We should be facilitating youth development at the community level through social groups, youth information centres, after-school programmes, and counselling intervention to address some of the issues that may arise with regards to these youths.

Jason Madden

SRHR Youth Advocate

Family matters and youth development

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Dear Editor,

Sad to say, but the oft-repeated statement of many politicians that they are here to serve the people always evokes a disbelieving snort from me. Their recent action or should I say inaction towards a proposed wage cut, plus the Azan issue, hasn't make things any better.

I couldn't help but be reminded of a Bible study in which I participated some time ago which looked at the various Greek words for servant as used in the Bible. The first one is the Greek word diakonos from which we get the English word deacon. That basically refers to a table waiter -- one who serves others, waiting on their needs, helping them to live. Then there is leitourgos from which we get the word liturgy. This refers to a humble public servant who was willing to sacrifice personal comfort, even his life, in service to the State, for the welfare of the people. The next one is the Greek word latris, from which is derived the English word latrine. The latris, or worshipper, did work that no one else would do. He expected nothing from life but to be debased. How about the Greek word huperetes (the under-rower), which is likened to the personal aide of the commandant of the Greek army. The huperete was a loyal underling. Our politicians who say they serve, know how to have these, not be these.

Then there is the oikonomos -- the steward or trustee of property and affairs for the good of the people. Finally, one with which our politicians can relate. But hold a minute. The oikonomos was assigned to the pantry, kitchen and dining hall of the household. Hmm. Given our Jamaican aptitude for scams, they would soon find a way to become trustee of the office or the vault, raping the country of all its wealth.

Finally, there is the slave, the Greek word being doulos. Jesus said in Matthew 20 that "Whoever would be great among you, must be your diakonos, and whoever would be first among you must be your doulos."

Slavery is a bad word to us Jamaicans. Too bad we don't seem to realise that many politicians have taken on the old backra massa mentality that our forefathers fought to overthrow.

Forgive me, but I don't want to hear another politician saying he or she is here to serve me. I want to see that service in action. Take a wage cut, deny yourself the new car and, please, use the money raised on behalf of the people to actually help the people.

Sharon Knight

noche@flowja.com

Politicians don't know meaning of service

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Dear Editor,

The critics of Minister Bunting for his statement about divine intervention for behavioural change are being unfair, if not dishonest. I do not believe he was saying he cannot manage the portfolio, but being humble enough and wise enough to acknowledge that he and his Government, like all of us, need God's help to succeed effectively at life's endeavours.

Bunting has been doing a fair job, and has performed as well as any other and better than many who have carried that portfolio over the years. We have seen worsening conditions under them all, and it was not for lack of trying. So it raises the question: What is the answer? The cry for help should be applauded.

The reality is that what Minister Bunting, his government, and those before them have done, and are doing, is not the solution. What the commissioner of police is doing, albeit well meaning, is not the solution. All these approaches have produced few lasting results as the evidence has shown. Even the church leaders' suggestion for a day of national repentance, which is well needed and which can add value, cannot solve the problem by itself. As church leaders,and God's representatives, we should suggest to Mr Bunting to invite some wise church leaders, who know divine Kingdom principles on the ordering of society, to offer divine wisdom on the solution.

Although the problem can be solved, past and present approaches have missed the mark, owing to poor diagnosis, wrong location of the problem, and hence, wrong medicine. The medicine being offered is feeding the cancer of crime, rather than destroying the cells.

Bunting's recognition is a step in the right direction toward the source of wisdom for solution. He must now take the next step and invite specific counsel from those who can help and are who willing to do so. The solution is not as difficult or faraway as may be thought. But, is there the political and national will to humbly accept and apply the divine wisdom?

If just acknowledging the need for divine intervention created such a stir, would we want it or are we content to keep doing what has consistently failed? Such is often the wisdom of men, hence the dilemma remains.

Pastor Al Miller

Fellowship Tabernacle

pastormilleroffice@gmail.com

Bunting's first step to divine wisdom

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Dear Editor,

The Bible says we ought to "obey God rather than man".

The issues concerning homosexuality, gay rights and marriage, have been given a voice, but whom do we obey? It is Almighty God who has the final say and who will put this abnormal matter to a perfect rest.

Those who are practising this illegal and unnatural act are deliberately flying directly into God's face.

Any government, president, or political party which dares to legalise homosexuality or gay marriage — or has already given the green light — will have made a giant step in corruption and will lose their dignity and self-worth.

We are being reprimanded to 'leave people alone to live the lives they choose', but this is a diabolical example. I am disturbed to know that some people who are well respected, and who ought to speak out against homosexuality, are merely caressing the issue at the tip of the iceberg, as if they are in agreement.

How can we leave them alone when Jesus said this to His disciples: "Go and become fishers of men." What did Jesus mean by this remark? Should we leave them alone to perish in their sin?

It's our responsibility to rescue them; even from being beaten to death. Just think of the well-known hymn: "Rescue the perishing, care for the dying..."

We must not allow unnatural desire to further corrupt our nation. We must stop it. And if we disobey God's instruction, His wrath will be upon us. If the power of God is upon you, you will not be afraid to stand up.

God did not make a mistake by allowing anyone to be born with unnatural desire. But the good news is that they can break away from the bondage of same-sex attraction and get back into the natural realm.

Donald J Mckoy

donaldmckoy2010@yahoo.com

God's way not gay

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Dear Editor,

I guess I should be accustomed by now to the various means by which the government extracts money from us, but I was totally taken aback by the dastardly process at the Half-Way-Tree Post Office.

Some years ago, the post office introduced Priority Mail with much flourish, promising that this system would cause mail to be delivered within two days. I have used this service from time to time, and although I never really checked if it took a maximum of two days, I never before had reason to question the service — until today.

On 17th April I sent a letter by priority mail and today (22nd) as I happened to have to go back to the post office, I called to see if the letter had been delivered. To my horror it had not. So on going into the post office, I handed the receipt to the young man selling stamps to check on the item. He looked at the address of the post office to which it was being sent and flippantly replied, "Oh, priority mail does not apply to country areas."

You could have hit me down with a straw, as every time I have used the service, it had been to send stuff to rural post offices. I therefore asked when did this "policy" come into effect; only to be told "always". When I pressed further to find out how long that particular item for which I had paid the priority rate would take to be delivered, he nonchalantly replied, "During the regular period, three to 10 days." Shocked, I asked him why they were committing fraud against the public by charging priority rates for things being sent by regular mail, only to be told defensively that I had asked for it.

Well, blow me down! If this is not an example of blatant, barefaced fraud, I don't know what it is. And one would have thought that with post offices being almost redundant these days, the authorities would at least give the few customers they still have reasonable service. But in reality, the idea of good service is not at all on the agenda. For, despite the high unemployment in the country, they would not even hire a few clerks to sell stamps so that the most basic service there does not take a minimum of 10 minutes.

Joan Williams

Kingston 10

gratestj@gmail.com

Mail fraud?

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Dear Editor,

On my way to work I glimpsed the headline of the Friday Observer dated April 12, 2013, "I felt like leaving Jamaica." These words were uttered by Lady Allen, wife of our current Governor General, in light of the recent death of Sgt Courtney Simpson — a former member of her security detail.

In the article, she claimed that she "didn't want to be a Jamaican". How unpatriotic of her? As a person held in such high regard in our beautiful island, I expected better from her.

You are supposed to be inspiring citizens of Jamaica to hold steadfast to the fact that our security ministry will be working assiduously to protect us. We are all grieving the loss of Sgt Simpson and the many other members of the security forces and wider Jamaica who have been brutally gunned down. However, it is beyond me to say that I want to jump ship. I wonder where you are going to go Lady Allen. Please share with me the country in this world that has a zero per cent crime rate.

With due respect Mrs Representative of the Queen, you have 24-hr security, people hired to protect you and your family, people who in that capacity place your life ahead of theirs, and in the same breathe some will probably lose their lives in the process of protecting you and the rest of Jamaica. And you mean to tell me that you woke up one morning to bad news and just didn't feel like being a Jamaican anymore. Well, quite frankly, we should say ta-ta to you.

If the one time you opened your mouth it was to say you didn't want to be a Jamaican, I suggest that the next time you feel like saying something you replicate exactly what you did when the man was found stealing ackee on the property you now reside... remain silent. My stepfather always told me if I have nothing good to say, just whistle.

Dee Arr

Youth Advocate

Ta-ta, then, Lady Allen

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Dear Editor,

News of the impending IMF deal is being greeted with a sense of relief, as if it were a solution to the country's economic problems, when in fact the loan is a continuation of the failed policies which have led Jamaica to this dubious economic position.

Jamaica already has one of the highest debt to GDP ratios in the world, and already spends approximately over 50 per cent of the national budget to service this debt. Yet, with a straight face we are told that the Government is adding more debt to what everybody concedes is already too high. Solution?

It has been argued that we are in trouble now and so we need to borrow more money today to prevent economic collapse. But what about tomorrow?

As economist Henry Hazlitt said, "Today is already the tomorrow which the bad economist yesterday urged us to ignore." We are facing our current economic woes because, as a country, we have had a short-sighted view and sought only to lessen today's pain by sacrificing our tomorrows.

If Government borrowing was the solution, then Jamaica would not have a problem since we have been excessively borrowing for decades now. It escapes me why, this deal will be beneficial, when all other were not.

The reality is that Government's continued borrowing is actually exacerbating the problems they are trying to solve. For example, the dollar's devaluation is due to the fact that as a country we have been paying out more US dollars than we have been collecting. However, when the Government borrows a sum of US dollars they have to repay that amount plus interest, leading to further devaluation as the dollar outflows surpass the inflows. Even with the proposed IMF deal this year, Jamaica will pay back more US dollars to the IMF than it will receive.

Furthermore, government borrowing creates structural imbalances that make the economy inefficient and worsens our troubles. The government uses the borrowed money to temporarily prop up the Jamaican dollar and in doing so subsidises importation. This is the reason we import so many goods, even food that we can and should produce locally. The borrowing makes importing goods cheaper than producing them here. As a result Jamaica's economy is unbalanced and overloaded with retailers and wholesalers and not enough producers. Government borrowing has made producing in Jamaica uncompetitive, so we will always be unable to produce enough to satisfy local demand or to earn foreign currency through exports. Thus the dollar will forever be falling, unemployment will forever be too high, and we will forever be asking for loans -- unless of course we stop trying to get something for nothing today, and start to consume only what we can afford based on our production.

Clevon Meikle

clevonium@hotmail.com

IMF loan part of the problem, not solution

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Dear Editor,

How can someone really look at an old man of 93 and have the heart and the nerve to kill him? He could be your grandfather!

Some persons fail to accomplish anything worthwhile in life, and are considered to be worthless, when that is not really the case. It is the reaction and the retribution that follows to the third and fourth generation of families through the evil deeds of our forebears. Deeds like this murder. Whether good or bad, these things follow us down through the years.

Old-time people have a saying, "If you can't say good, don't say bad; and if you can't do good, don't do bad."

Be warned!

Claudette Harris

claudetteharris43@yahoo.com

How could they?

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Dear Editor,

Jamaica is best known for tourism, jerked meat and also reggae music. In spite of boasting all these exotic things, Jamaica also boasts the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world.

Prostate cancer has the highest prevalence of any non-skin cancer in the human body around the world, irrespective of diet, occupation, lifestyle, and other factors. It is a significant health problem for middle-aged and elderly men. Studies have shown that Jamaican men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer — every three out of 1,000 men — when compared to black American men (around 2 out of 1,000 men).

Although the cause of prostate cancer is still in debate, the reason behind why Jamaican men have the highest death rate due to prostate cancer is still alarming.

Prostate cancer is a problem topic to discuss with Jamaican men, especially with the targeted age group of 40 years and older. If it is at all mentioned, it is quickly dismissed. The Jamaican male's reluctance to seek medical care can be explained through a cultural viewpoint. One of the reasons is due to males not seeing themselves as being susceptible to the disease, and also due to humiliation, as they fear it will emasculate them.

You will see males going to the hospital in a near-death experience. Dr Paul Bourne at the UWI once stated that the cultural aspect is one of the factors why Jamaican men do not visit hospitals regularly, and hence do not screen for prostate cancer. Jamaican men also view the rectal examination as not only embarrassing, but somehow think it homosexual in nature. Due to this fact, the cycle of reluctance continues.

Although men are urged, through the media, by various Jamaican urologists, physicians and also the Jamaica Cancer Society, these warnings go unheeded. The lack of discussion about screening for prostate cancer and the lack of culturally appropriate communication with health-care providers have caused distrust, created fear, and further developed a hatred for this test on a cultural and social standpoint among Jamaican men.

Notwithstanding the lack of an efficient screening programme for prostate cancer in Jamaica, the fear and hatred of the test, and also the method used for screening — the notorious rectal examination — are fuelling for the prostate cancer situation.

If non-invasive and less humiliating methods for prostate cancer testing are not developed and employed, along with proper education on this disease, more Jamaican men will continue to suffer and die from it.

A G Lewis

Manchester

Are homophobia and prostate cancer rise related?

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Dear Editor,

I have noted with much concern the current brouhaha surrounding the renaming of the Cornwall Regional Hospital to the Dr Herbert Eldemire Regional Hospital in the wake of a report in the media that Chairman of the St James Parish Council and Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris, had indicated that public consultation should take place prior to any final decision.

This after a Cabinet decision had been gazetted and enjoyed assent from both PNP and JLP administrations.

As member of parliament of the constituency of St James Central in which that multi-disciplinary institution is situated, I am proposing that rather than a consultation with parishioners, there should be a well-designed and effectively implemented public education campaign to fully apprise the general citizenry, many of whom are not sufficiently aware of the tremendous contribution "Mas' Herbie" made to this country in his capacity as a former minister of health.

No well-thinking and informed Jamaican should oppose the renaming of the hospital in honour of Dr Herbert Eldemire. In this vein, I telephoned a senior member of the Eldemire family to offer my sincere sympathy for the embarrassment the ongoing controversy has caused, to the extent that there is now a decision dissociating them from any such exercise.

Let me hope that good sense will prevail in this matter, which has also been further embroiled in another bangarang with respect to a JLP move to disregard a Cabinet and gazetted decision to name a section of the Bogue main road in Montego Bay the "AGS Coombs Highway". As a result, rancid political partisan behaviour has erupted in and outside the St James Parish Council.

I urge Mayor Glendon Harris and former Mayor Charles Sinclair to rise above the fray in order to have these two matters resolved amicably and with desired results.

Two wrongs cannot make it right.

Lloyd B Smith

Member of Parliament

St James Central

Rise above the fray

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Dear Editor,

We live in a society where income levels are too low. How much does it cost a family of five to live and be nourished enough to learn, to have basic shelter and security? This is the challenge of our society and must define where our focus must be.

Our political leaders have tried different methods and used different strategies over time. Some have given the appearance of being successful and others have failed even if our leaders don't yet recognise it. But the majority have understood that there must be a public face which always seeks to motivate, to show empathy with the masses and always, always shows how they positively influence the process.

In this week, the third week of April, I have been able to use our current crop of political leaders as the butt of my jokes. I have been able to start a presentation with the following words: "Even though we live in country where our political leaders want to run away from Jamaica, or get emotional on a public platform because of crime and violence, we at (blank) will keep our promise...".

Each of us has a role to play in the success of this country. Yes, sometimes we get tired and we despair, but we talk with our God in the morning and come out with the spirit that says, "Yes. Lord, Yes."

Why? Because the second we don't, the minute we forget, the hour that we decide to put aside our focus we stand the chance of losing hold of everything.

Our first family must do what they are known for, go down on their knees and pray, pray unceasingly. Our Cabinet ministers must put on their game faces every single day and come out fighting; fighting for me, for you, for all of us. My prime minister cannot be queen; she has work to do She has to talk us through the challenges of daily living. Tell us how to succeed; tell us how the Government plans to help. Assure us that you are not only there to enjoy the spoils.

This is the job that must be done. As always if you can't stand the heat...

Christopher Givans

St Andrew

christopher.givans@gmail.com

Your job is more than material for jokes, PM

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Dear Editor,

I am writing you this letter so that the entire Jamaica can hear of the plight of those who reside in Portland.

We have very little or no employment opportunities. We barely have much Internet access. On any given day you can hear people complaining about having no access to the Internet in their homes. While a number of companies operating here say they offer Internet service at a reasonable cost, there is much to be desired. One provider's basic package adds up to $5,000 per month, and there are no available ports on this citrus tree in Hope Bay at this time. The "bigger, better one" 4G service is only available on the coastline; so if you are on a hill you will not be able to access it.

I visited the offices of a lesser-known company today and was told that they don't know when they will be coming to this part of the island and the other has not yet flowed to Portland.

So one can clearly say that we are being ostracised in some way.

We are asking corporate Jamaica to see the potential in Portland. Come and invest in our parish. We want to join the Web, too.

Island Portlander

germzie27@yahoo.com

Portland ostracised

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