Jamaica Observer

Dear Editor,

We have been able, through infrastructure developmental programmes, to provide electricity, water and roads to many Jamaicans.

However, we have been unable to empower our people to levels whereby they can afford these amenities. So they steal electricity and water, which certainly defeats the purpose.

The Government, playing the role of referee, must be able ensure that private sector companies can provide jobs from which they will, in turn, derive benefits in terms of taxes.

Singapore is ranked by expatriates as the world's best place to live, ahead of the US and the UK. There is an estimated 300,000 expatriates living there. The safe environment and relatively low taxes make it an ideal location for growth and to protect savings and investment.

The prime minister has to be able to put loyalty aside and reshuffle her Cabinet. Lisa Hanna would best serve the nation in Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. Some may seem surprised, but Hanna displayed a credible interest in alternative energy, especially clean coal. She evidently researched the topic and posited the idea that a coal plant could generate enough power to satisfy demands on Jamaica's north coast.

We cannot fit people in positions based on sex, we have to judge them based on interest, determination, dedication, and discipline. After eighteen and one half years of PNP rule and four years of JLP rule, we are unable to seriously build a waste to energy plant. Waste from garbage dump sites and sewage-disposal systems can be converted to fuel.This will provide an efficient solution to waste disposal. A new study, in 2012, conducted by the Earth Engineering Center of Columbia University and sponsored by the American Chemistry Council, found that if, somehow, all of the municipal waste currently landfilled in the US were diverted to new waste-to-energy power plants, they would produce enough electricity to power more than 16 million households annually. There goes our problems with fires at our landfills.

The Government has numerous consultants, advisers and technocrats, many of whom earn far more than our ministers. Yet they seem to blindly follow the leader with all types of hare-brained schemes. They know when an idea is feasible or not, yet intellectual dishonesty -- probably enhanced by financial security -- shapes their decisions.

When a minister comes up with some thing he has dreamed up after a heavy mea,l don't sanction it! This is possibly the last chance Jamaica has to climb out of debt, we cannot encourage leaders with stupid ideas, no matter how nice they may sound.

Last week's glich in a bank may delay teachers pay, but what happens if we are unable to pay teachers, nurses, doctors, policemen or reduce their overtime significantly, as is occuring in the United States, because we simply don't have the resources to do so? Can you imagine the chaos?

Mark Clarke

Siloah,

St Elizabeth

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

Lisa Hanna for Energy Minister

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Dear Editor,

The promotion and marketing of alcoholic beverages is one of the most debated and controversial issues of advertising legislation.

It is true that advertising bans are justified by the legislators in order to protect the health and safety of people. Thus, indiscriminate consumption is avoided.

Alcohol caused 12,000 deaths last year. Alcohol abuse reportedly creates more health problems than drugs. The Government has invested millions -- maybe even near billions -- into the different autonomous communities for anti-drug programmes, which includes a special emphasis on alcohol.

Moreover, The Red Cross' Foundation for Help against drugs says that a third of young people spend 90 per cent of their money on alcoholic beverages. Thus, alcohol is the leading cause of death among youth, since 60 per cent of fatal traffic crashes, during the night and on weekends, are caused by the consumption of alcohol.

Several campaigns against the consumption of alcohol have been launched under the slogans: "Alcohol fills gaps", "Talk to your children, information is prevention", "Drink with moderation, it is your responsibility", "Enjoy a responsible consumption" or "Drink responsibly". These actions have tried to invigorate behaviours and suggest the individual requirement in the waste of alcoholic beverage.

Otherwise, alcoholism affects women more than men. This is due to the fact that cerebral palsy develops more quickly in them, according to a study of the German University of Heidel and the American university of Stanford.

Finally, we must recognise that alcoholic beverages are the most ferocious attack suffered by today's society. An aggression whose consequences reach all social strata but victims are especially young people, our most valuable treasure.

Clemente Ferrer

antonio@aplicaciones.info

Alcohol fills gaps

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Dear Editor,

I am pleased to share an uplifting story for a change.

In a time when our society is overwhelmed with crime and corruption, we rarely encounter occasions that remind us that there are still good morals and decency.

On Friday, April 26, 2013 — pay day for many — I was to attend a concert at the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) featuring the great musical genius, Maurice Gordon, performing with his band: Maurice Gordon and Friends.

En route, family members and I decided to stop for lunch on-the-go at Heroes Circle — roasted corn, yam and salt fish. We pulled into the BOJ parking lot with enough time to spare. A full house enjoyed the magnificent performance. Unbeknownst to me, this was beginning of a great evening.

Returning to the parking lot, the security guard greeted me by my full name. Puzzled, I greeted him back and asked under what circumstances we had met. His response was not what I expected — he informed me that he had found my wallet in the parking lot. The natural panic occurred as I desperately searched my pockets hoping that he was mistaken. Alas, empty pockets.

He immediately returned my wallet to me and said that the gardener notified him that I had dropped it on exiting the vehicle.

Both did the honourable thing; the security guard holding on to the wallet until I returned. This was a breath of fresh air.

There are still a few of us genuine and honest Jamaicans living here.

Not only did I express my immeasurable gratitude to both men, I contacted the security guard's employer so that they too would be aware of the goodness that still exists in this country.

This gesture may not have moved mountains, but if we were all so lucky to encounter such kindness on a regular basis, I would challenge you not to smile. I hope goodness is contagious and this story encourages people of Jamaica to remember compassion and respect for each other.

Thank you, Mr Sonil Palmer of McKay Security.

Michael Chuck

michaelchuckmtr@gmail.com

Thank you, Mr Sonil Palmer

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Dear Editor,

I read in your paper recently that Jamaica's indebtedness is now $1.81 trillion.When did the total move up from 1.7 trillion dollars, and why?

My understanding is that the country has not been getting much, if any, money to borrow in recent times, but the massive devaluation from US$1=J$86.00 to US$1=J$99.45 has increased the country's indebtedness greatly.

So why do we continue to devalue our currency and in so doing further impoverish our people? How is this helping to improve anybody's quality of life?

Other than tourism, the country is producing very little for export so that it can earn foreign exchange. So how is the continued devaluation of our dollar helping the country? Our bauxite and alumina industry has fallen off very badly. This once vibrant industry is currently a shadow of itself, contributing very little to gross domestic product.

Recently there was jubilation in some circles that the country, in the not too distant future, will be getting loans to the tune of about US$2 billion from the IMF, the World Bank and the International Development Bank. Am I missing something here?

I am seing this loan as more debt on top of the $1.81 trillion that is already owed.This is going to further increase the already very high debt to GDP ratio.

When the funds are received from the international financial agencies, how are they going to be used? Are they going to be properly used to earn foreign exchange to pay back the loans and contribute to the development of the country?

As a Jamaican, I fervently believe that Jamaica must cut out most of its borrowing and try to live within its means. This wide-scale borrowing is the main reason the country has found itself in this perilous economic situation. If we can't afford highways now, let us leave them alone. If we can't afford convention centres now, let us leave them alone. If we can't afford cricket stadiums now, let us leave them alone.

All the above and more were built with borrowed funds. The ability to pay back for these expenditures is dim and almost non-existent.

We must stop the borrowing that does not contribute to profitable development for the Jamaican people. We must stop committing the Jamaican taxpayers to paying back all these massive loans without corresponding benefits.

Our leaders must lead in the interest of the Jamaican people so that in the very near future we will start getting our economics right and be a country to be emulated.

Roy Wilson

royhwilson876@gmail.com

Sad state of affairs

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Dear Editor,

If ever a straw broke a camel's back, that straw fell this afternoon (last week). The Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica released what may go down in Commonwealth history as the most unfortunate statement on behalf of a head of Government. Mrs Simpson Miller is purported to be "concerned" for the safety of the prime minister.

Fair enough. The worrying aspect of this development is that there is no security threat -- in the standard sense. Instead, the OPM released this dubious statement after members of the media sought a response from an ever-evasive Simpson Miller. In her now characteristic attempt to dodge the media, she was apparently struck by a microphone.

It is regrettable that the PM was struck, but the real issue, is why was she running? Why hasn't she consented to sit for an interview. When one considers the PM's abject refusal to face the press, it leads to one devastating conclusion. If a leader cannot face the country unscripted, it brings the competence of the leader into serious question.

It is shameful and unacceptable.

Since taking office, the PM has repeatedly told the nation that "time come"; time come for removing The Queen as Head of State, time come to take appeals to the Caribbean Court of Justice, time come to put country above party, etc. I think the prime minister must now reflect on her own inability to lead the Government, indeed the country; time come, to step aside. Time come Portia, time come.

One of the most frequently levelled criticisms against the former government was its apparent arrogance. There was a time that the PM, as Opposition leader, convinced me that the Bruce Golding-led government was indeed too arrogant. I was inclined to agree that the tone and tenor of ministers like Daryl Vaz was offensive. Imagine my surprise now to find the Government led by Mrs. Simpson Miller even more arrogant. Imagine my shock and awe at the fact that the PM herself currently drips with contempt.

Our first point of contact with the arrogance of this Government was the minister with responsibility for information, Sandrea Falconer. Ms Falconer frequently treats the media as a collective nuisance and, in one instance, purported to have a right not to answer questions. Her tone now frequently implies that the country should get over whatever little foul-up her Cabinet colleagues have got themselves into. Even more unbelievable is her penchant to say "No comment", or some other weak variation of it. Her tone is no different from that of a Daryl Vaz.

The problem is that Mrs Simpson Miller and the PNP represented a change. The mantra of "people power" promised a change in style, tone and leadership. It turns out we've jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. The most glaring example of this is the Richard Azan debacle. The state minister seemingly displayed poor judgement. The Cabinet rallied in support of their fellow Comrade. This is nonsense. The alleged act, if committed, is ample grounds for suspension, if not dismissal. Mr Azan should have been made to stand aside until it could be proven that he is indeed innocent. For someone always quick to call on former Prime Minister Golding to act, Mrs Simpson Miller seems to suffer from the disease of inaction.

Mrs. Simpson Miller has repeated every single fault she found with the Golding Government. She has not kept her promises, she has allowed the contempt of her ministers to go unchecked, she has appointed the second largest executive in the history of independent Jamaica, she has trampled on the concept of people power by refusing to face and have dialogue with the people of Jamaica in a meaningful way, she has said she's working, but in reality all we see is ribbon cutting, baby kissing and ground breaking, and finally, she has remained deafeningly silent on every major issue facing Jamaica, choosing to hide behind her ministers. It is a crying shame.

I never wanted to be so decidedly anti-PNP, I never intended to be so strongly opposed to the leadership of Mrs Portia Simpson Miller. In fact, a part of me hoped she would have used the sizeable majority she commands in Parliament to enact some meaningful change in Jamaican politics, that was not to be. I am left angry, annoyed and resentful at our politics and political system. It is time for the PM to accept what is already evident to the whole nation, she cannot fulfil the role she has been asked to play. Is time to accept dat, Mama, time to seriously put country above party and above self. Time come Portia, time come.

Ricardo Brooks

ricardo.brooks@live.com

Time come Portia, time come

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Dear Editor,

Having followed the match between a Jamaican team packed with reserves and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC), I have come to the conclusion that the concept of the CCC has outlived its sell-by date. It seems that the CCC only has a small pool of players to draw from. I believe that there should be more proportional representation in regional cricket.

We need to have a structure that is more even-handed in terms of population distribution.

As the territories have uneven population sizes — Jamaica (2.9m), Trinidad (1.2m)

Guyana (750,000), Barbados (300,000), Windwards (500,000), and Leewards (less than 200,000) -- is there any surprise that the Leewards are continued cellar dwellers?

I would like to see all the teams play each other, over an extended regional four-day season that stretches from February to July, since that is now part of our international season. Instead of a single round-robin, make it a home-and-away domestic season. But crucially, instead of the CCC, I would like to see Jamaica being allowed to have a second team, based on Jamaica's population size, and its dominance of four-day cricket over the past five years.

Take the Jamaican players from the CCC and those in the IPL and we have a pool of about 24 players, at least, from which we can field teams. Call them, for argument's sake, Jamaica East and Jamaica West. Here are some of the players: Brenton Parchment, Zeniffe Fowler, Simon Jackson, Andre McCarthy, Jermaine Blackwood, Dave Bernard, Carlton Baugh, Nikita Miller, Jamie Merchant, Bryan Buchanan, Sheldon Cotterrell, Shacoya Thomas, Nkrumah Bonner, Danza Hyatt, Marlon Samuels, Tamar Lambert, Chadwick Walton, Andre Russell, Andrew Richardson, Odean Brown, Akeem Dewar, Jason Dawes, and Xavier Marshall.

The CCC has no real supporter base. At least Jamaica East and Jamaica West will have pre-existing rivalry that they could build on.

Michael Siva

siva.michael@gmail.com

Region should have proportional representration in cricket

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Dear Editor,

Any attempt to abolish Preliminary Enquiry is unreasoned and ill-conceived and can only do injustice. The abolition does not take into consideration the following:

1. The statutory procedures for submitting cases to the Clerk of Courts to ensure that cases and case files are properly prepared are not followed;

2. The inexperience of Clerk of Courts who are occupying that chair merely because they are qualified as Attorneys-at-Law.

3. Motorists particularly operators of Public Passenger vehicles are being prosecuted for minor offences on the new policy of zero tolerance replacing the policy of warning notices in the first instance.

4. Traffic Officers being treated as revenue collectors some imposing fines far above what the courts would impose and so those fines are not paid causing warrants to be issued and further court proceedings.

5. There are not enough Resident Magistrates so that one can deal exclusively with trial matters and another with new, bail and mention matters and another or a Master to deal with chamber matters.

Preliminary Enquires continue in England and America. In England there is no Preliminary Enquiry only if the defendant or his lawyer agrees. Preliminary Enquiry is to make sure that unworthy matters do not reach the Circuit Court to cause further burden upon the Supreme Court since judges of the Circuit Court are the same ones who deal with both criminal and civil matters in the Supreme Court.

Owen S. Crosbie

Attorney-at-Law

Mandeville

Manchester

oss@cwjamaica.com

Rethink stance on PEs

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Dear Editor,

As I sat in Gordon House on April 23 and 24 listening to our politicians hurl insults at each other, I couldn't help but think about some of my unruly students who I encounter every day. The teacher in me wanted to stand up and tell them to be quiet and show respect for each other, but I guess I would have been escorted out of the gallery.

The Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness drove into the PNP Administration the error of adding more taxes to an already highly taxed economy and this should not be shoved under the carpet. The Government is stubborn, hard-headed and mad with power like the character Gollum from Lord of the Rings. The Opposition is more open to change and best policies in their plight to form Government once again. When will the tug-of-war stop? When will the green card become our last option?

Banded Belly or Banged Belly, whichever it may be, our economy is in crisis. The PNP government are like children in a classroom; they are doing a fairly good job, but when you point out the errors they are making, they frown and are unwilling to accept them.

When you write an essay, sometimes it's hard to edit your own work, but someone else can see all your mistakes sticking out like a sore thumb.

Holness gave the Government ten recommendations to help the economy. It is refreshing to see him carrying out his promise to move away from the traditional method of opposing. His graphic representation with the baskets sent everyone in Parliament into a frenzy; some laughed, some jeered, but I was in awe.

We all agree that the JLP formed government in tough times, trying to lead us out of a recession, but their efforts were under appreciated.

There are those who complained that his speech was too long, but yet others say it didn't have enough substance. And I thought, that with all the criticism from our so-called educated analysts, the only people who are offering any solution to our government is the opposition. But I am afraid it has all fallen on deaf ears. I am inclined to agree with Dicky Crawford that our government should be mature enough to consider some of these suggestions.

I will proliferate that I am one of Jamaicans who voted for the PNP based on family tradition and not from an objective position. I must also say that the first cut is the deepest, Kudos to Peter Phillips in his decision to cut back spending and put money towards our debt. But there is so much more to be achieved if they stop for a moment and focus on what Jamaica needs and not on gaining and sustaining power. We are tired of a "gollum-like" government.

Alethia Buckle

(Rookie Teacher)

Craighead, Manchester

abuckle@yahoo.com

Tired of a Gollum-like Government

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Dear Editor,

Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites has been performing very well to date, but now due to our schools becoming war zones and killing fields he is now talking nonsense, as indicated by comments in the article of Sunday 28th April, titled: JTA tells members to avoid violent fights between students - Teachers at risk!

Minister Thwaites is quoted as saying: "That in the light of the violent nature of some schools the ministry was moving to have deans of discipline enlisted as district constables in the constabulary". The ministry of education and its advisors and senior bureaucrats are all grasping at straws. This is not even a temporary stop-gap, it is pure nonsense and not even a poor solution.

I have previously written letters to the editors of the Daily Gleaner and the Observer decrying the sentiments of the Jamaican public and the ministry of education, wanting teachers to be miracle workers in performing all kinds of tasks not relevant to teaching and instructing.

This is now without thinking for the ministry of education to be even suggesting the preposterous idea of deans of disciplines to be enlisted as special constables to the constabulary. What next? Maybe the notion will come in teachers training, that in the course on class room management, a section should be included on restraints and self-defense.

Oh well, prospective teachers and deans of disciplines could start seeing in advertisement for their positions: candidates with military training and experience will be given higher consideration for these positions. According to the current thinking of the ministry of education, this is not far fetched at all.

Obviously, there are better strategies and techniques for effective solutions.

Dudley Morgan

Yukon,

Canada

Teachers at risk!

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Dear Editor,

Over the years, a number of our schools have been plagued by violence. While many of the reported violent onslaughts have been between students, in recent times, our teachers have also become caught in the crossfire.

Many of our schools are no longer institutions solely for learning, but are instead battlefields for students who have developed into menacing goons. Consequently, drastic measures must be employed to ensure that our teachers and other law-abiding students are protected.

I am happy that Clayton Hall, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, has cautioned teachers not to get physically involved in quelling fights between students. However, the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders must now examine more intense measures to combat the sporadic outbreaks of violence in our schools.

Thankfully, Minister Thwaites has intensified the reformation process by seeking to enlist police constables as the deans of discipline in our schools. Nevertheless, more needs to be done. Consider military training and improved insurance coverage for teachers. Teaching has become too risky to undermine the relevance and import of such coverage.

Additionally, tighter security measures must be implemented in all schools. We cannot wait until there is a violent outbreak at a particular school before we take action. We must be proactive in our approach. Therefore, all students and teachers in all schools must be searched before entering the compound. Visitors must also be thoroughly searched, as too many relatives of students have barged onto school campuses and have waged attacks against teachers. Metal detectors and full-body scanners could be used to facilitate and expedite this daily search procedure.

We must also ensure that all schools are properly fenced or secured by high-rise walls in order to prevent any trespassing or unauthorised entry on the campus.

Furthermore, behaviour modification programmes must be developed and implemented to gradually transform the behaviour of students who have been identified as violent and disruptive.

Conflict resolution skills must also be taught at every level of our school system so that students can learn to resolve disputes without ever becoming physical or violent.

Minister Thwaites, these investments and developments may be expensive, but teachers and students cannot function effectively in any environment in which their safety is threatened. Security is a fundamental human need and so we must move steadfast in making sure that this need is satisfied.

Shawna Kay Williams

PRO, Mico Guild of Students

Shawna201@gmail.com

Fight Back

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Dear Editor,

By now we must all be aware of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB) and National HIV/STI merger to form the national authority for sexual and reproductive health. While it is a good move to have the merger, we are now faced with the question, will these two entities -- now made one — make more success in its endeavour, and what about the rights component associated with sexual reproductive health?

One of the issues that this authority needs to examine is the debate on whether condoms should be distributed in schools or not. In order to tackle this correctly, the first step that must be taken is for us to scrutinise the readiness of individuals at this age to be engaging in sexual encounters.

There needs to be greater transparency in the age at which one can start engaging in sex and the age at which one can access sexual reproductive services. At present, it is 16 years old and 18 years old respectively. This is contradictory, but the sad reality is, it is our law, so we have to abide by it or else we know the result will be jail time or be fined large sums of money when brought before the courts. There have been several consultations over the years with the relevant authorities involved; however, we are yet to see any real change with regards to having consistency in light of this discrepancy.

Let us examine the pros and cons of distributing contraceptives in schools moreso condoms. Many argue that if this is done we are sending a strong message to children that they should be engaging in sexual activities at their young age, even though they are not emotionally ready for this act. How many of the children in schools are married? Well, we have to take into consideration the moral standing of most of the country being Christians, and we all know that it is a sinful act to be engaging in sex before marriage.

When last did you stop to check the statistics as it relates to teenage pregnancy? The last time I did, it still showed Jamaica having one of the highest in the region. What about that for HIV and other STIs? The 14-24 age groups have the highest rates in the total population. This should not be the case, but it is a reality that these unwanted diseases and pregnancies are occurring among our young people. How else can we deal with this in our society but to distribute condoms to students to rid the society of these unwanted actions? This should always be a last resort, but if the family was playing its role and educating children from within the home from an early age about sex, then the school wouldn't have to be faced with this burden.

At the end of the day, we should also be advocating for comprehensive sex education in schools. Not only should we teach about abstinence -- which is the greatest prevention strategy -- but for those who are involved already there needs to be intervention strategy, and this can come in the form of condom distribution to protect these students against unwanted pregnancies and diseases. There should also be a supportive component which can come through counselling and effective referral services where needed. Students have the ability to make informed decisions and should be trusted in taking on this role at times.

Jason Madden

SRHR Youth Advocate

Yes to condoms in schools

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Dear Editor,

I am more than a little curious about a JIS report carried this week by several online news sources stating "Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says the Ministry stands ready to assist teenage girls, forced to drop out of high school due to pregnancy, to complete their secondary education after giving birth. He also implores principals and other secondary school administrators to assist in re-admitting the girls into the education system, citing that this is "mandatory".

Section 31 of the Regulations under the Education Act gives the Minister discretion as to whether a girl excluded from school by reason of pregnancy may be re-admitted to that school or any other.

Regulations under the Education Act are subject to negative resolution of Parliament, so they couldn't have changed without public knowledge. I moved a motion in the Senate in February asking that this law be changed to make re-admission mandatory, but this is the first time I am hearing any position being taken by the Minister on this issue and, to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't come up in the House.

I'm therefore not clear on the message Minister Thwaites intended to send in his address to the principals and teachers. If the law hasn't changed, then it is not mandatory that they take the girls back into schools - so why would he say it is? Indeed, if it were mandatory, then why would he have to implore the principals to take the girls back? Furthermore, what is this assistance which the Ministry now stands ready to deliver, and what is the framework for same?

As previously explained, changing the law to make re-admission mandatory would correct an institutional wrong that embeds inter-generational poverty in our society, and prevents many girls and their children from fulfilling their potential.

It would also correct what I believe to be a breach of the fundamental Constitutional protection from discrimination on the basis of gender as enshrined in Chapter 13 of Jamaica's Constitution, known as the Charter of Rights.

Not least of all, changing the law would remove the power of personal discretion from the picture and legitimise the necessary efforts of those well-thinking teachers, principals, guidance counsellors and officers of the Women's Centre Foundation of Jamaica, who make every effort to get youthful mothers back into schools. These women -- trailblazers and daily bastions of girl empowerment -- have long recognised the negative impact of exclusion on the girl, the child and society at large, so where they can, they work around the rules. So rules are again observed in the breach, and accepted as the way in which things must be done. Unfortunately, however, not only do we thus justify rule-breaking for the end-result, but we leave many girls out. What about the girls who don't have someone "imploring" on their behalf?

This is in part what concerns me about this media report. Is the Honourable Minister saying that all principals should now do what a few have been doing already, save that they should now call the Ministry?

I think the matter is sufficiently important for the Minister to be more definitive. The words sound right, but there seems to be a gap between the public discourse on changing the law to make re-admission mandatory, and this speech picked up by the media. I am hopeful that this is a precursor to an announcement of an intention to amend the Regulations under the Education Act, and a clearly articulated policy to support re-integration.

Hopefully, the Minister is also working with the Prime Minister to ensure that resources are provided to the Women's Centre so that they can expand the number of girls they are able to reach to prevent repeat pregnancies. If he changes the law and relevant policy, it will be a less arduous task for the Centre to get girls back into the formal system and allow them to better focus their energies. A better-resourced Women's Centre could possibly even provide expanded day care facilities as part of a supporting infrastructure for a change in the law.

I couldn't close without repeating that more care certainly needs to be placed on ensuring high quality, realistic and youth-friendly delivery of Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) in schools. Principals must be made to understand the importance of ensuring that the curriculum is not only delivered in their schools, but that they have the right teachers delivering the right content. Teachers must be sufficiently comfortable to encourage questions and answer them. This is really the heart of the matter - an ounce of prevention of course, beats all of this discourse any day, so the Ministry will have to be realistic about its approach to HFLE and youth-friendly support services if it is to work as intended. If it does, then the situation will eventually become less dire, as fewer girls will get pregnant before they finish school.

Honourable Minister, we would be grateful for some clarity on this important social issue, and look forward to your clear policy statement.

Kamina Johnson-Smith

JLP Senator and Attorney

kejohnsonsmith@gmail.com

Give us clarity, Minister Thwaites

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Dear Editor,

I write in response to the article published in The Daily Observer of Tuesday April 30, 2013 entitled, "KSAC ignoring us, say developers." The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) strongly refutes claims being made by President of the Developers' Association Mr Michael Lake, especially in respect of correspondence sent to the KSAC.

We have checked our records and by all accounts, there is no evidence of any letters being sent to the town clerk. Notwithstanding, President Lake and his association have made it clear that they are doing their part and they are expecting us to do ours.

Consequently, we are mindful that there is a standard of customer service that is required from us that must now become our hallmark in keeping with our new vision of a customer/citizen-centred organisation. We have been working internally to improve our processes and will continue to do so and have been meeting with persons from time to time at their request.

We stand ready to meet with Mr Lake, the Jamaica Developers' Association or any other developer who needs clarification on matters relating to the development approval process.

Errol C Greene, JP

Town Clerk

KSAC

Not so, Mr Lake

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Dear Editor,

My family and neighbours have given up in disgust. We no longer complain to the Matilda's Corner police about night noises, though we are subjected to excessively loud noises day and night.

Loud, raucous music, often accompanied by howling DJs, coming from locations within a stone's throw of the station, disturb residents in my neighbourhood for endless hours on far too many weekends, often from early Saturday afternoon to after 7:00 am on Sundays.

In an attempt to escape the noise, my children have tried sleeping underneath their beds or inside the kitchen. But those haven't worked as the noise penetrates everywhere. The sleep-deprived kids just end up in tears.

The noise comes mostly from Northside Plaza, sometimes from Chambers Lane. The worst offender by far is in Northside Plaza.

Excessively loud music and amplified shouting are regular emissions from events staged at Sts Peter and Paul Church mostly on Saturdays.

Despite complaints to the Matilda's Corner police, nothing changes. The police sometimes claim not to hear the noise others hear from miles away. As to Sts Peter and Paul, no one returns phone calls and no one in authority ever seems to be on the compound to address the Saturday disturbances.

Clive Brooks

clivebrooks2012@gmail.com

Frustrated by weekend noise

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Dear Editor,

Jamaican leaders tend to adopt catchphrases, one of which was "Yes we can", from President Obama's first term in office. The current phrase is 'transformational leader', but there are examples of what a transformational leader is, and one such is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil.

Like Portia Simson Miller, Lula can be described as coming from the bowels of the poor, but he doesn't hold it up as a badge of honour and use it to beat us over the head. Lula had little formal education; he did not learn to read until age 10 and quit school after the second grade in order to work to help his family.

At age 12 he was as a shoeshiner and by the time he turned 14 he was a street vendor. This didn't stop Lula from achieving greatness. After losing a number of attempts at being elected, he was finally successful. In office, his administration achieved a satisfactory primary budget surplus in only two years, as required by the IMF, exceeding the target for the third year.

By 2005, they paid off Brazil's debt in full, two years ahead of schedule. In his second term, Lula introduced a Growth Acceleration Programme that involved:

1) Investment in the creation of and repair of roads and railways.

2) Simplification and reduction of taxation.

3) Modernisation of Brazil's energy production.

Lula implemented the Ministry of Social Development and Eradication of Hunger. Brazilian foreign trade increased dramatically, changing from deficits to several surpluses since 2003. In 2004, surpluses reached US$29 billion. After decades as the largest foreign debtor among emerging economies, Brazil became a net creditor.

Lula's economic policies also helped to raise living standards significantly, the middle class rose from 37 per cent to 50 per cent of the population. Social programmes included:

1) Creation of water cisterns in Brazil's semi-acrid region.

2) Actions to counter teenage pregnancy.

3) Strengthening of family agriculture.

4) Distributing minimum cash to the poor.

Under Lula, Brazil became the world's eighth-largest economy, as more than 20 million people rose out of poverty.

Now, Mrs Simpson Miller and Mr Andrew Holness, that is transformational leadership.

Mark Clarke

Siloah PO St. Elizabeth

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

Lula a true transformational leader

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Dear Editor,

The rule of law (from the World Justice Project) is the underlying framework of rules and rights that make prosperous and fair societies possible.

The rule of law is a system in which no one, including Government, is above the law; where laws protect fundamental rights; and where justice is accessible to all.

Public enforcement of Government regulations is pervasive in modern societies as a method to induce conduct. A critical feature of the rule of law is that such rules are upheld and properly enforced by authorities, particularly because public enforcement might raise the scope for negligence and abuse by individuals pursuing their own interest.

Too often have we seen the authorities in Jamaica try to enforce the rule of law, only to retreat and give in to mob rule. The Transport Authority states that Coaster buses are lawfully entitled to carry only 22 passengers. That is the rule of law, and in a society governed by the rule of law, the Government and its officials and agents are subject to and held accountable under the law.

Why then have the Government and its officials retreated and are making a mockery of the law by allowing the operators of these buses to continue breaking the law? Are we a society that will continue to give a "blye" to law-breakers?

On many occasions I have seen the Transport Authority and the police retreat in the face of mob rule. Whether it be the overloading of buses or the loud playing of music, the operators always win.

The lawless ones in our society know that all they have to do is launch an unlawful protest and hope that the Government and their agents will retreat. Protecting human security, mainly assuring the security of persons and property, is a fundamental function of the State. Are the authorities abdicating their duties in the face of the mobs? What are the views of the commissioner of police in this episode?

When will we begin to see strict enforcement of the rules of law in Jamaica? We have so many laws that are not being enforced effectively. The Noise Abatement Act, the Anti-litter Act and the no-vending laws are just a few that come readily to mind.

The operators of public transport have been getting away with a lot over the years. Will they be allowed to get away with this one, too? Who knows, maybe they just will.

Neville Beckford

beckkid@hotmail.com

Why allow Coaster bus drivers to break the law?

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Dear Editor,

The public defender has submitted his interim report on the May 2010 Tivoli operation, and most Jamaicans should be concerned with the finding of excessive force and extra-judicial killings carried out by members of the security forces.

His recommended commission of inquiry is more than welcome and we hope this commission will be convened as soon as possible. In anticipation of this inquiry, let us as Jamaicans hope that the findings will reveal the extent of these excesses and the names of those responsible for them.

More importantly, the commission must establish what the State needs to do to prevent a recurrence. It appears that in Jamaica we have become masters of producing inquiries that provide nothing but fodder for the media and a bland acceptance that the State can right its wrongs simply by saying, especially to human rights bodies, "Look, we've had an inquiry, so all is well!"

What has happened repeatedly, from the Green Bay killings to the repeated Tivoli incursions, is that after each of these onslaughts and human rights abuses, our security forces appear to adopt the approach of just how best they can prevent being caught out in future.

Their public relations spin is improved, their cover-up methods perfected and their legal departments strengthened to protect, primarily, not the interests of Jamaica, but the individuals and institutions they represent to the extent of withholding the truth.

Convening this recommended inquiry and reaching an effective outcome will hopefully strengthen the State's ability to keep the actions of its security forces in check and have them understand that every member at all levels must, at all times, and under all circumstances, act within the law.

Colonel Allan Douglas

Maeven Ave

alldouglas@aol.com

Tivoli commission of inquiry important

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Dear Editor,

On behalf of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) Limited, I would like to pay a grateful tribute to a number of public-spirited corporate citizens who helped to make our recent third anniversary AGM and Lifestyle Expo a great success.

As a relatively new voluntary organisation struggling to provide important programmes as well as advocacy for a seriously under-served group, this type of assistance is critically important.

Kudos, and many, many thanks to exhibitors Jamaica Public Service Company, BCIC, GraceKennedy, and the Pharmaceutical Divisions of Facey Commodity and HD Hopwood.

JPSCo and BCIC also made informative presentations, as did our own chair, Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer. Further support came from Wisynco, FLOW, National Bakery, Tastee, Digicel, Hertz, and Jamaica College.

Our very important 'Living Legacy Awards' series paying tribute to sterling senior nation-builders was extended by five 2013 Awards at the April 20 event. Three of these were co-sponsored by Sagicor, BCIC and NCB.

And we were all able to enjoy the CCRP Saturday afternoon Expo safety, thanks to the generous contribution of the Guardsman Group. We are especially grateful to the Guardsman team for going beyond the call of duty when they volunteered to escort our patrons from their cars across the road, under umbrellas, when it started to rain.

Many thanks to all these generous friends of the CCRP, and may others be inspired by your wonderful spirit of giving.

Dorett Linton

CCRP Coordinator

Thank you, generous friends of CCRP

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Dear Editor,

I read with great interest the article by David Mullings in the May 5th issue of the Sunday Observer — "A Grand Coalition for Jamaica"— and in support of his well considered and important article, offer my own comments.

Impartial observers agree that one of the main deterrents to the engine of national progress has been the inability of all elements of the country to contribute their skills peacefully — as opposed to aggressively — to the national good. This phenomenon is vividly demonstrated when, at the change of each democratically elected government, all talent belonging to the defeated party is replaced by a new cadre of political appointees.

This division, accepted and perpetuated by the leaders and followers of the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party, was consolidated at the time of Independence in 1962 and continues to this day. Not only did the rivalry continue but, because of the constant deterioration of Jamaica's economy and social fabric since Independence, the competition benefiting supporters of the respective parties progressively led to the great divide we feel today; once expressed by a commentator to be the "division of spoils between warring political tribes".

This view is based on my observation of the situation prior to, and since Independence. It is, again in my view, based on the historical and successful colonial concept using the method of dividing and conquering — a method of colonial control since Biblical times — and was a highly successful system employed by the British Colonial Office in regard to the then Empire moreso in the case of Jamaica.

This strategy was demonstrated when King George VI invited the late Norman MAnley to tea at Buckingham Palace while at the same time allowing his political rival Alexander Bustamante to bare his chest in the face of colonial authority at the head of a downtown Kingston demonstration. This firmly established the deep-rooted and often violent rivalry between the two nascent political parties.

Jamaica is now at an important crossroads in terms of national survival; an opportunity which may not occur again anytime soon. I refer to the recently negotiated agreement with the International Monetary Fund and its subsidiaries. This agreement contained a host of regulatory conditions and benchmark stages for implementation; most of which have been described as "strong medicine". Of interest is the fact that all of the painfully laborious negotiations and agreements were conducted exclusively by the finance minister and his team, with only negative or critical input from the Opposition.

Apart from a sense of relief now that the agreement is concluded, the nation is aware that our future — and that of our children and grandchildren — depends on our ability to reconstruct our economy (together with all other social implications) within the timetable established by the IMF.

This, I would suggest, will be impossible without the contributions of all members of Jamaican society — not only the party in power, but all citizens having something, however small, to contribute. This will not happen under the present order of party politics, but the risk of inactivity is too great for us to continue down the slippery slope of "divide and conquer".

Therefore, I suggest that the eminent proposal of David Mullings — providing we all recognise the crucial importance of national success — is a temporary suspension of party politics; perhaps for a period of five or seven years — sufficient time to put our train of recovery back on track. I support the formation of a Coalition Government for this country; a new government devoid of political rivalry and self-destruction, one comprised of the best brains, talent and capability that is currently available.

Additionally, in terms of the Senate, since there will no longer be any need for political appointees, the Chamber should be converted into a national think tank — a place where persons of experience and intellect may convene to debate the philosophy of progress in terms of national development, for them to be able to so advise the legislators in the other House. An analogous undertaking to such a system would be the agreement not to diminish any civil liberties or basic freedoms, eg speech or movement.

The concept is not new. When Britain was threatened by Germany at the beginning of WWII, they realised that party politics could no longer serve them in their hour of need. They enlisted the services of Winston Churchill, who led his mixed team to ultimate victory. After the coalition had done its job, they were elected out of power and a new opposition government was elected in its stead.

My suggestion, therefore, is that we must immediately take the opportunity presented to us to effect a change in the way we run our country. We are at war, not as the English were in 1940, but in a situation just as hazardous; let us all join in our fight for national survival. It really is Now or Never!

M J Stoppi, CD

Kingston

The case for a coalition gov't

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Dear Editor,

I write to counter the positions put forward in the letter titled 'Yes to sex-ed and condoms in schools', published on Friday, May 3.

All unnatural means of contraception are evil because they thwart the natural generation of life. They open up a wide and easy road towards conjugal infidelity and cause a general lowering of morality. Contraception damages the integrity of the full gift of self, which is intrinsic to the sexual act.

It is also a scientific fact that the AIDS virus can escape any technical device used, such as the condom. Hence, the only foolproof and morally legitimate solution to preventing AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is abstinence.

Sex education should also not be taught in schools, but rather in the home by parents.

Today, people are telling us that mandatory sex education in schools is good and necessary for children to keep up with the times -- even those who have not even reached the age of puberty. The result has been disastrous. There is an extremely high incidence of teenage pregnancy, of abortions obtained by teenagers, and of sexually transmitted diseases. Sex education has been the instrument used in schools to advance everything from contraception and abortion to the acceptance of homosexuality.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, sex education should be left to parents because they know their children well and can impart the proper knowledge to them at the proper time. Parents are also able to educate their children better than teachers can, because they are more able to pay attention to the complete education of their children, which involves a well-rounded schooling in the virtues of chastity, good judgement, justice, courage and self-control. It is in the family primarily, that children acquire, or fail to acquire, good values and attitudes.

There is no right way to give explicit sex instruction to children who are mentally and emotionally unprepared for it. There is no right way to give information in groups that should be given privately. There is no right way for an outsider to assume a role which belongs particularly to parents.

Sex education is the responsibility of parents, not the community, schools or health institutions.

Paul Kokoski

Hamilton, Ontario

Say no to sex-ed, condoms in schools

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