Jamaica Observer

Dear Editor,

The presentation in the Senate by information minister, Sandrea Falconer, last week on a Bill entitled, 'An Act to Repeal the Defamation Act and Libel and Slander Act', also known as the Defamation Bill, and her urging the media to establish their own self-regulatory body adds to the voices of many over the years who are keen on these developments. It's good to see that quite a bit of the work of the Prime Minister Bruce Golding-appointed committee chaired by retired High Court Judge Honourable Justice Ronald Hugh Small, which submitted its report in 2008, is coming to fruition.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), on the other hand, deserves commendation for introducing and ratifying a code of ethics to govern its valued profession. Nevertheless, with the coming changes, both the PAJ and the chieftains of media, the Media Association of Jamaica, should move quickly to get an effective, credible and impartial Press Complaints Council off the ground.

Back in 2011, when these issues were being vigorously debated, my view was and remains constant that the press must have a naturally adversarial relationship with government, and politics in general. After all, a weak press will only benefit a small few. In our democracy, those aggrieved should in the least have independent and reliable avenues to put forward grouses, especially in a context where freedom of the press belongs to those who own one.

If you have an issue with a lawyer, you can bring the matter to the attention of the General Legal Council; for a Medical Doctor, the Medical Council of Jamaica; likewise an issue with the police can be brought to the attention of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority. Issues with a member of the press, well for the most part, tough luck.

This is precisely why an independent self-regulatory body, which deals with complaints, needs to be established. Many countries have done it, and accountability and responsibility on the part of journalists have been strengthened while ensuring freedom of expression and, critically, no government oversight or political interference.

Delano Seiveright

delanoseiveright@yahoo.com

On the road to a self-regulated press

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Dear Editor,

It's time for the director general of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority to be removed from office. I am, however, bracing to hear that "everybady 'affi eat a food".

Be that as it may, it's time for the individual at whose pleasure the director general of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority serves, to act.

It was reported as far back as December 14, 2011, that the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) has "a clear picture of what happened at the Norman Manley International Airport on the night of December 22, 2009". We next heard on August 2, 2012 in this same paper that: "AA crash report (was) coming soon." Then on December 31, 2012 and on February 14, 2013 respectively, there was virtually the same report, "AA crash report will be ready next month".

What may save face for the JCAA is that the Authority, in its wisdom, did not specify in which year these reports would be unveiled.

It's ironic that, in just three days after the crash-landing of the Asiana Flight 214 777 in San Francisco, the authorities have a pretty good feel as to "what went wrong". Let's see how soon the final report of that accident is unveiled. Nevertheless, here we are — three-and-a-half years after the crash of American Airlines Flight 331 in Kingston — and every six months or so, we get the same song and dance.

I do not blame the director general of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority solely for this sort of slackness. Instead, I blame the individual at whose pleasure the director general serves. They have been taking the Jamaican public for a ride. We should therefore not rant and rave when outsiders label Jamaica as a "backwater", because that's what we are.

Raymond Ford

Michigan, USA

fordraye1@aol.com

Time for the director general ro fly away

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Dear Editor,

This week, July 7-13, 2013, is being recognised as Responsible Gaming/Gambling Awareness Week; the first of its kind in Jamaica and perhaps the Caribbean. RISE Life Management Services, through the proactive sponsorship of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, operates the only Responsible Gaming Programme within the English-speaking Caribbean that provides prevention, treatment, research, and other intervention services with regard to gambling-related issues.

In other jurisdictions with advanced gaming industries, one cannot acquire a casino or gaming lounge licence without demonstrating that you have a Responsible Gaming Policy or code of conduct which includes staff training, contribution to research, support services for patrons with gambling problems, including an exclusion programme and other provisions for the protection of patrons and staff alike. These programmes are written into the legislation of these advanced gaming jurisdictions and as such are legally mandated, but this is not so in Jamaica.

During this landmark week, RISE intends to entreat many other gaming lounges to come on board and develop a responsible gaming code of conduct. To date only Treasure Hunt Gaming and Supreme Ventures Limited have implemented responsible gaming practices within their facilities. For that reason, both organisations will be honoured during this week of heightened awareness about the importance of responsible gaming.

In an era where gaming and gambling opportunities have increased tenfold, Jamaica must get to the place where we understand that responsible gaming exists and operates best when government, private sector, communities, and individuals collectively organise and practise the principles that govern responsible gambling which is grounded in science and driven by collaboration.

Richard Henry

RISE Life Management Services

57 East Street

Kingston

Responsible gambling is the mission

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Dear Editor,

I read with interest your news report on 6th July, 2013 in which Karyl Walker reported on a second eviction of some reputed homosexuals at a Dewsbury Avenue location.

My interest was particularly piqued by the comments of J-FLAG in response to this eviction, where the advocacy group remarked: "J-FLAG is deeply concerned about the continued reliance on forced eviction as a strategy to address homelessness among poor and vulnerable Jamaicans. The police operation to remove individuals from a property on Millsborough Avenue on July 3, 2013 is another example of the unnecessarily brutish treatment of the poor and vulnerable who have no place to sleep."

This statement follows a revelation in an article entitled, "Rowdy gays banned from J-FLAG, JSL" which appeared in this newspaper on August 21, 2011.

Said Mr Lewis in that article: "Yes, we have banned those who have violated the space because of their bad behaviour, but it's not everybody that is banned from accessing our services". Oh? These statements are reminiscent of the complaints of the residents in the community concerning the conduct of these homeless young men. In the same article, several homosexuals also complained about the lack of advocacy by the members of J-FLAG, and that they had been abandoned by the group. Such sentiments were repeated as recently as January 27 of this year in this newspaper. It is hypocritcal of J-FLAG to take this position on the actions of the police, given their previous position regarding similar behaviour by some of their members. Ironically, it seems that not even J-FLAG is exempt from feelings of disapproval for distasteful behaviour. I am so grateful to the media for keeping us honest in this debate concerning gay "rights".

On any given day, there are over 100 homeless men and women before the gates of the Supreme Court/Court of Appeal at King Street, many of them afflicted with dreadful illnesses. Yet the voices of advocacy are not so loud in their defence. If the Government wishes to take steps to address homelessness in this country, it should be wary of favouring one group above another.

Janene Laing

St Andrew

Utmost hypocrisy , J-FLAG

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Dear Editor,

I write not to disagree with the content of Mr Robert Howell's letter printed in the Observer on Saturday, July 6, 2013 on the recent Millsborough Avenue happenings. In fact, I applaud Mr Howell's purpose.

My disagreement is with the use of the word "happy" to describe these individuals.

Years ago, the word gay was used in a wholesome sense. Later, the word was purloined and is now used in its present context, meaning homosexual.

I hope that Mr Howell's trope is not hijacked and used as was done to the word gay.

We all want to be happy in the true sense of the word. Let's not confuse it.

L A Hemans

lahemans@aol.com

Gay vs Happy

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Dear Editor,

Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) and the Lift Up Not Lock up campaign welcome the news from National Security Minister Peter Bunting and Commissioner of Corrections Jevene Bent that all girls have been removed from Horizon Adult Remand Centre. We also welcome Minister Bunting's commitment that the inhumane practice will not happen again.

This announcement is a very important development. However, it raises questions that need to be answered ,and signals that further action needs to be taken:

1. Where have the girls been moved to?

2. Have any of them been placed in Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre?

3. Have the necessary provisions been made for continued support of all the children?

We raise these questions against the background of the Armadale tragedy and the fact that many of the girls who were subsequently released from State care did not receive the level of support they deserved. The responsibility of the State to provide this care does not cease simply because the girls at Horizon are in another facility or are no longer institutionalised.

JFJ and the Lift Up Not Lock Up campaign are calling on Minister Bunting to use the powers assigned to him under Section 47 of the Corrections Act to remove Horizon Remand Centre from the list of correctional or remand centres authorised to house children.

JFJ and the Lift Up Not Lock Up campaign will continue its campaign to ensure that the State protects the rights of these children, who are among Jamaica's most vulnerable citizens.

Susan Goffe, Jamaicans for Justice

Moira Morgan, The Griffin Trust

More must be done for children in State care

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Dear Editor,

Are we emphasising the size of Jamaica as a cover-up for our serious crime rate? Because, whenever we open our mouths and talk about the staggering crime problem and the senseless and brutal day-to-day slaughtering of our people by vicious hard-hearted brutes We also talk about Jamaica's size.

Are we being deceived? Yes, war is all over the world, but their is a difference. Our crime rate is extremely high. I am in total disagreement with those who are saying that because Jamaica is small the crime problem looks so bad -- absolute rubbish.

What does a small country have to do with the vast number of people who have already been brutally murdered? We had in recent past, more than one thousand people dying annually. The smaller a country is, it's the less difficult it should be to manage; and the crime-rate should not be sky high.

Donald J Mckoy

donaldmckoy2010@yahoo.com

Size doesn't matter

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Dear Editor,

I am writing in regards the emboldened homosexual groups that are seeking to dominate this country. Let me first say that their intent is malicious and destructive, to say the least. From their profile, one can see that theirs is not a sit at a table and talk style, but rather an either my way or war style.

Now there are several countries which have embraced their lifestyle and have made it legal. Those countries have offered asylum to many homosexuals so, whatever the requirement, why don't the others take up the offer? However long that civilisation will last, it is their reality, so they should embrace it instead of the constant warring in Jamaica between 'gays' and 'good'.

Also, the Church, which is supposedly the representative of God's will on earth, regards homosexuality as not of God's will. The Sodom and Gomorrah experience, the Levitical laws, Romans 1 utterance, and so many others appear suddenly not to mean what God says it should mean, but rather that we should be carefull of what God says. The only rule in the Bible that appears to be the unbroken rule of God to pastors is Malachi 3 which, of course, speaks to the collection of money. Is it any wonder that they are the owners of the largest houses, biggest cars and their souls seared with hot iron? I was shocked to note that, with so many churches per square foot in this country, only seven churches came out against the gay protest. The others sat idly by.

Big names like Davis, Blair, Williams and the Seventh-day Adventists with their law book, were noticeably absent. Well, as a christian, I know that Malachi 3 is not the only command given in the Bible, and as such the principle laid down which states that "if you are guilty of breaking one, you are guilty of breaking all" rules of the Bible must be applied. I will no longer be paying over monies to church. Let pastors find jobs to do rather than sit on their blessed assurances expecting the congregrants to feed them. If I am moved to donate, I will or look to the churches who are actively fighting the scourge to give my money to.

JM Fletcher

Irish Town

Stop sittng on your blessed assurances, pastors

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Dear Editor,

AN OPEN LETTER TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

In response to your letter suggesting that I direct my request to remove you as Head of State to the Government of Jamaica, I must hereby inform you that, in 2011, I expressed my concerns to the Government of Jamaica in an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting that Her Majesty be removed as head of state. The letter generated many responses from the Public supporting the removal of the Queen.

The present prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, soon after she was elected in 2012, publicly declared that she will have Her Majesty The Queen removed as head of state. Since 1978, the prime ministers of Jamaica have all made public statements that The Queen should be removed as head of state.

Your Majesty, your representative, the Governor General, should have informed you of the public statements made by the prime ministers for your removal.

Your Majesty, the neo-colonial Government of Jamaica has a serious problem. The legacy of slavery and colonialism has inflicted a serious debilitating inferiority complex on them to the extent that they appear to be incapable and afraid to do anything that will affect the ruling monarchy. All these public declarations by the Jamaican Government have not resulted in any action for constitutional changes.

It is time for Jamaica to be free from all forms of servitude and colonialism. I reflect on the brutal hanging of my fellow Jamaican, Sam Sharpe, and the slaughter of his supporters by the British colonial army in 1831 during their struggle for emancipation from slavery.

This resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1838. Notwithstanding, this did not put an end to the struggle. The British brutally hanged Paul Bogle in the public square and slaughtered his supporters in their struggle for justice and independence from British rule in 1865. The British labelled Sam Sharpe and Paul Bogle as rebels, criminals and murderers. Jamaicans honour them as freedom fighters, emancipators, martyrs, and national heroes.

It was not until 1962 that Jamaica was granted a neo-colonial form of Independence with The Queen as head of state. During the 51 years that you have been head of state, Jamaica has neither achieved constitutional nor economic independence. Today, the economy of Jamaica is controlled by the International Monetary Fund.

Your Majesty, please be gracious enough to let go, step aside and give Jamaica its independence and allow us to decide our own destiny.

Donald G Morgan

Caribbean Close

Kingston 10

Graciously step aside, Your Majesty

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Dear Editor,

One of my disappointment with the administration of United States of America President Barak Obama and his western allies is that they seem not to have a sense of history, or are prepared to go against good judgement and even to back 'scorched earth' policies, if geopolitical and economic gains are in the offing.

My comments are directly related to the current conflict in Syria to oust the duly elected regime of President Assad, where the USA and some of its Western and Arab allies are all part of an unholy alliance that include internal forces and external ones, that are drawn to do battle for myriad reasons, including groups that swear allegiance to al-Qaeda, terrorist group supremo and the sworn enemy of the United States of America.

What strange bedfellows does this conflict make?

Reflect on the decade between 1979 and 1989, at the height of the Cold War in Afghanistan, which was the epicentre of the conflict between United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic — the two superpowers. The Russians were the main backers of the Afghan regime, while the Americans, with the support of Britain and Saudi Arabia, poured billions of their taxpayers' money in cash and war material, in support of the mujahidin who eventually ousted the Soviets from that territory.

The mujahidins were led by Osama Bin Laden, the architect of 9/11 -- a day which has been written in the blood of over three thousand innocent lives lost on US soil and the subsequent prosecution of a "war on terror" by the administration of George W Bush. This resulted in close to 5,000 US soldiers being killed and 32,000 suffering life-altering injuries in Iraq, while in the case of Afghanistan it's in excess of 2,200 of a coalition body count of 3,200 according to official sources, not to mention the billions of taxpayers' dollars that was diverted to this cause. The numbers of innocent Iraqi and Afghanistan civilian lives lost and maimed in these two conflicts are in the hundreds of thousands.

That is why I am very concerned about the attitude of the Obama regime towards the release of the Cuban Five, whose only "crime" was to defend their homeland against the same kind of terrorism hatched in most cases on US territory and which has resulted in 3,478 innocent lives lost, injuries close to 3,000 and immense economic damage to that country's economy since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. This same terrorism that has seen electronic eavesdropping, unlawful rendition in third-party countries, extra-territorial detention in Guantanamo Bay, and the use of drones as part of the arsenal that the USA has brought to bear on this hydra-headed monster.

President Obama, "it's not too late for a shower of rain," release the Cuban Five so that they can be reunited with their families and friends in their homeland. Terrorism knows no boundaries and you are judged by the kind of company that you keep.

Trevor G Brown

trevorgbrown@hotmail.com

Will history repeat itself

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Dear Editor,

As the toll road operators strip away the last of our meagre earnings, could this be done in a way that provides its users with proper vehicle assessment facilities and better customer service that leaves us with our dignities intact?

At almost every instance of approaching a toll lane, my vehicle is assessed and I have paid as Class 1. Within the last two weeks, however, the toll booth operators would have me believe that my vehicle has the amazing ability to cause the toll lane calibration devices to malfunction, because despite the visible Class 1 assessment each time, some collectors change the classification to Class 2 and rudely demand that I pay at this higher rate, as though I have somehow committed a felony.

On Sunday, July 7, I had the most unpleasant ordeal coming into Kingston from Clarendon. At 8:20 pm at the Vineyards East Toll Plaza, Lane E03, as my usual Class 1 charges appeared, I retrieved the funds budgeted to pay the operator, Ms Valdeen Martin. I then noticed that she had just manually upgraded me to Class 2. When I queried this, she advised that her lane was "malfunctioning" so she had a duty to change it since my vehicle was a Class 2. I disputed this claim.

This practice of upgrading vehicle classes seems arbitrary, punitive and bordering on extortion. Isn't this scraping the bottom of the barrel now?

I declared that I had no additional funds, and further produced a receipt as proof that I had only minutes before paid at Class 1 rate at the May Pen East Toll Plaza.

Though she is authorised to extract more money from unsuspecting users, apparently she is powerless to use her discretion to reverse her actions. This power lies solely with her supervisor, Miss Shawnette Brown, who could only be reached by phone. Well, not really, because after waiting for nearly an hour to speak with her, I was merely informed that her only comment was that I find the additional funds.

In any other business enterprise that values its customers, the Shawnette Browns of the establishment would have made an effort to assist the aggrieved customer, if even to apologise for the malfunctioning device which caused the inconvenience. She clearly enjoys a sense of security knowing that her job tenure is in no way linked to customer satisfaction. Is this the voice that the JIO wants to represent it?

Realising that I was wasting my youth here, I offered to pay using my card. To add further insult to injury, I was told (with a smile) that this was not possible as the sales office is closed on a Sunday, so I would just have to find the money.

There must be alternatives available to us than to be held captive on the toll road until money materialises from thin air.

I was therefore left with no choice but to abandon the last shred of my dignity in the neighbouring toll lane where I begged another motorist for the additional funds to pay the toll in order to complete my journey. Sir, whoever you are, I am grateful beyond words.

While I explore what recourse is available to persons like myself, I implore the relevant authorities to examine the vehicle-calibrating devices, put a stop to the questionable class hike practices underway, mandate that a vehicle listing by class be installed in every toll lane to remove all doubt, and insist on their providing alternative means of payment or an ATM at the facilities. The commuting public deserves better than this travesty which passes for public service in Jamaica.

It's time we stop silently suffering at these injustices.

K McFarlane

kadimac@gmail.com

The indignity that is the toll

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Dear Editor,

A number of individuals and organisations have used the recent Court decision by Mr Justice Batts as a beating stick to hammer the police and by extension Commissioner Owen Ellington. We need to look at the issue more carefully.

Firstly, the judgment by Mr Justice Batts must be seen as addressing a specific case of an injustice to a Jamaican individual. The injustice that was punished was not the stop and search, but rather the behaviour of the police after the search, when their action was clearly a spiteful reaction to a legitimate question posed by the defendant in the case. In fact, the Commissioner needs to follow that up in terms of disciplining, and possibly dismissing those guilty policemen.The learned judge may well have reflected on the implications of the police stop and search procedures, but the case could not be used as a reason to stop the process. That specific issue now clarified, let us examine the various attacks on the force and by extension the Commissioner.

Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Mr Renato Adams got front page prominence in the Observer (June 30, 2013) in his call for the police force to be scrapped and a commissioner elected by the people.The idea is so ludicrous that Mr Adams must be going senile. Perhaps the recent Tivoli incursion has brought back memories to haunt him of the time when he led the team into an attack on Tivoli and left over twenty dead bodies on the streets. A memorial is dedicated by the Tivoli community to that occasion.

Not to be left behind, Jamaicans for Justice have joined in the attack and Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke with the praedial larceny crisis to farmers on a front burner, is blaming the police and the Jamaica School of Agriculture for not doing enough. There was even an irrelevant comment about people not trusting the police for searching.

Fortunately, Jamaica has an outstanding police commissioner who is prepared to take a stand on an issue which is fundamental to effective crime-fighting. The stop and search guideline empowers the police to, without cause, stop and search any vehicle and its occupants on reasonsable suspicion that firearms and/or ammunition is being unlawfully conveyed therein. This procedure led to the bus being held with guns and ammunition recovered and the commissioner has been at pains to remind his force members that courtesy must be a major consideration.

A W Sangster

Hope Pastures

sangsteralfred@yahoo.com

Police under attack

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Dear Editor,

Some months ago I wrote a letter (published in another newspaper) of criticism and concern regarding the way in which some of the animals at Hope Zoo were apparently being kept and treated. I had special concern for the iguanas' diet —- which seems not to have changed up to now from callaloo and tomato — and the lack of water etc, in some of the snake enclosures.

I am still concerned with the green iguana's diet. They require a very varied mix of vegetables, including alfalfa (rabbit chow), raw mustard greens and raw gratered squash (pumpkin). I am hoping that the callaloo and tomato are not their daily fare.

The most dramatic addition of a lion, Lucas, is of especially great interest to all of us. It is good that we now have a lion and his enclosure appears nicely set up — although smaller than desirable for such an animal. I imagine and hope that the persons in charge of him are knowledgeable and caring, being well versed in all the enrichment details that zoo-kept animals such as this will need for their comfort and health, both mental and physical.

I am glad, however, that at least Lucas is not in a "jail cell" type enclosure, as some big cats are often so cruelly kept.

I have visited the Hope Zoo twice in recent times, and am strongly recommending a visit to anyone who wishes to relax, to enjoy, to educate and to learn. The Hope Zoo grounds have been and are still being beautifully upgraded, and the animals' enclosures, for the most part, are well thought out and set up for the animals' various needs.

Much excellent work has been done and is still in progress to make this a zoo we can be proud of, at last.

I hope that a lot of prospective visitors will not be denied a chance to see the zoo because of the increased entrance fee, and also that some of the vendors who used to sell in the parking lot at the entrance will be reinstated for their own benefit and that of the visitors.

Congratulations to the Curator Mr Orlando Robinson,and his team of employees at the Hope Zoo.

Sincerely,

SADAN TAYAD

Kingston 10

A zoo we can be proud of... almost

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Dear Editor,

Horse racing has been around almost from the creation of mankind. Caymanas Park, Jamaica's only horse racing track, has been in operation since 1959. However, all is not well with the "Sport of Kings" and has not been so for the longest while.

Over the years, there has been an exodus of thoroughbreds from Jamaica to Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad and Tobago to continue their racing careers.

The local horse racing industry currently employs over 12,000 Jamaicans both directly and indirectly. It is logical to say that a significant number of those jobs will be threatened and disappear if the mass horse exodus from Jamaica continues.

Recently, there was an article in one of the daily newspapers in which one race horse owner spoke of his frustrations and displeasure with aspects of racing at Caymanas Park, which he said have resulted in him removing his horses to Trinidad and Tobago.

It's a well-known fact that the authorities have failed to address the many problems affecting the local horse racing industry, in particular, operations at Caymanas Park. Now we have a serious situation in which race horse owners are shipping their horses in droves to Trinidad instead of waiting around for the authorities to solve the problems.

The issue of security is another problem that needs urgent attention.

To add insult to injury, of the 17 horses slated to leave in this batch, at least one is a classic winner of the 2013 1000 Guinness. This can't be good for the local horse racing industry as our punters are being robbed of seeing our best thoroughbreds compete.

Horse racing is too important to the Jamaican economy and the livelihood of many Jamaicans for us to sit idly by and allow the industry to crumble. Maybe the time has come for the government to divest operations of Caymanas Park and allow the full potential of the horse racing industry to be realised. If that were to happen, certainly we would have horses leaving Trinidad to come to Jamaica to compete against our best thoroughbreds.

Decisive action is urgently needed on the matter to save the local horse racing industry.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com

JA losing out from horse exodus

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Dear Editor,

There are too many students exiting our Jamaican high schools as good-for-nothings. There is urgent need for curriculum reform to establish a general high school curriculum. This curriculum should include the following subjects: English A, English B, Spanish, mathematics, information technology, integrated science, and social studies. The CSEC syllabus for these subjects should be introduced from seventh grade, so that when the students complete 10th grade they have achieved complete mastery of syllabus content and can pass these subjects at first sitting. This curriculum will provide all high school graduates with a rounded education.

The specific career goal of the students will determine the additional subjects to be studied. If a person's career is law, then the additional subjects will be economics and history. For medicine, chemistry and biology. For engineering the additional subjects will be physics and technical drawing. For accounting and management-related professions, principles of accounts and business, with office adminsitration.

To my certain knowledge there are students passing subjects that have no relevance to their career goal. These complemetary subject areas are career-focused.

Carryl Harris

Hopewell, Hanover

carrylgurney@yahoo.com

More career guidance needed

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Dear Editor,

The recent judgement by His Lordship Mr Justice David Batts has been generating a healthy debate on the issues of the powers of the police to stop motor vehicles and search them as well as the drivers and passengers of motor vehicles. These matters have always been contentious, primarily because there are several instances in which the police abuse their power to search citizens.

The right to search citizens, which is borne by the police, is not done for their own benefit, but as part of a scheme that is established in just about every country for the security of citizens. This right to search citizens should therefore be exercised in a restricted way and in absolute compliance with the legal principles on which that right came

into existence.

The principle of which I speak is that a police officer should only stop and search a motor vehicle when he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the motor vehicle and/or its occupants are involved in the commission of a crime, or that the occupants are about to commit

a crime. This includes a reasonable suspicion that the motor vehicle is conveying illegal drugs or stolen property, including stolen animals.

What Justice Batts did in his judgement was to emphasise that well-established principle. We must therefore be clear in our minds that Justice Batts has not promulgated any new law or laid down any new principle. What he has done is to remind the police of the basis on which they can stop and search motor vehicles. He has also reminded them that it is wrong to arbitrarily stop and search motor vehicles. That is to say, without having any reasonable suspicion that the motor vehicles are involved in any wrongdoing. Persons who are now claiming that the learned judge has barred the police from stop and search are mistaken, as he did no such thing.

It must be appreciated, however, that the vast majority of Jamaicans are extremely uncomfortable with the way in which police officers carry out their duties on the roadways. There is no doubt that members of the police force discriminate against owners and drivers of station-wagon "deportees", some of which are called "skettels". Whenever these vehicles are seen with more than two persons they are almost routinely stopped and the driver accused of operating "robot taxi".

In the absence of any other observation to support such a change, this is an act of profiling and a vicious discrimination against the less wealthy members

of our society.

I find that the judgement is a refreshing revisit to the issue of the basis on which the police are entitled to interfere with a citizen's freedom of movement and right to privacy.

The Commissioner of Police should embrace it as such and seize the opportunity to inform and educate members of the force on the importance of acknowledging, protecting and defending the rights of citizens, no matter how difficult the situation.

Linton P Gordon

lpgordon@cwjamaica.com

Dear Editor,

I have been following the ATL pension fraud case very closely and I am appalled at the manner that legal counsel for the defence conduct themselves. I am referring particularly to KD Knight.

The reports that I have read of his in-court behaviour seem the same that I saw in the Mannatt/Dudus Enquiry in which he was dubbed "star boy" based on similar abhorrent actions. I've never seen such unprofessionalism in one of the professions that one can argue is a very prestigious one.

In one of the reports Knight was cross-examining the legal counsel of the ATL/Sandals Group Dmitri Singh and hurled insults at him, one of them stating that Singh is a disgrace to the legal profession.

I would like to contrast public cases that we see in other countries like the United States where the lawyers act with professionalism and class, even when things are not going their way. You can see frustration at times, but I have not seen the type of behaviour of blatant disrespect that Knight displays.

It's quite ironic that the very person that is behaving like a barbarian is saying that someone else is a disgrace to the legal profession. The type of behaviour that Knight displays is what I believe has contributed to the decay in Jamaica. This speaks to the like-mindedness of the Jamaican people who think that his behaviour is not only acceptable but that he deserves praise for it. It is this lack of respect that permeates the entire society and has resulted in a very backward and barbaric society. No regard for others is evident in the murder rate, the way we use our roads and in the poor adherence to basic laws that keep order in the society.

I think Jamaica is a great country, but with people behaving like KD Knight it's actually a very unbearable society to live in. I can't understand why he thinks that his methods are effective and that he has to behave in such a sickening way. I was happy to see that Mr Singh, and the previous witness, David Davies, stood their ground.

I actually have mixed feeling towards Knight's behaviour as, on one hand it is quite funny to me to see someone reduce himself to such a low level, but on the other hand it's sad to see that kind of behaviour being held in high regard. He may think that shouting and insulting is a way to get respect, but it's a major turnoff for any decent and rational human being. I'm happy the judge stepped in to make him know that his behaviour is unacceptable, but it seems the greater society sees this as a "star boy" quality.

Unfortunately I have no solutions for Knight, as certain things cannot be taught to a man his age. But there is still hope for Jamaica in the way we raise the future generation, which would be to have basic respect and regard for each other.

Shivam Patel

spatel0116@gmail.com

'Star Boy' at it again

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Dear Editor,

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness and party Chairman Robert Montague are talking nonsense when they say that the core value of the JLP is the empowerment of poor people, expressed in 1943 as the desire "to create a new deal for labour in this country".

I do not know where Holness got the statement he claimed Bustamante made, but I am sure it must have been written after 1962 when ‘Busta’ was letting things go.

So Holness is wrong to say the party seeks a balanced or a meritocratic society. When we have achieved more social and economic development we can talk like that.

A mass party like the JLP exists to serve the poor and the humble, and if working-class Jamaicans cannot be assured that they are at the top of the JLP agenda, the party will be forever in Opposition.

Read the account of the 1943 launching, Andrew!

Orville Brown

Bronx, New York

Dear Editor,

I find the decision by the minister to ban smoking in public places laughable. Don't misunderstanding me, the thinking is right, but the implementation is where you will find the problem.

Jamaica has a history of passing laws which are either enforced for a short while and abandoned or never enforced at all. Case in point, the wearing of helmets by motorcyclists.

Ganga is illegal in Jamaica and it is smoked on every street corner and every public event I attend in full view of police. The authorities have been unable to stop an illegal practice and instead the police occasionally come down hard on some unfortunate person against whom there is possibly some vendetta. The same thing is going to happen as far as smoking of cigarettes (which is legal) in an illegal area.

Let's see you enforce this one, Mr Minister.

Dear Editor,

Children live what they learn and learn what they live - Dorothy Law Nolte

This outlines the different traits that children pick up from those around them.

A few months ago, a ward of the state was attacked in an adult correctional institution. Then the country heard of a seven-year-old committing a crime that one would usually expect of an adults — breaking and entering. But this was worse, as the child tried to poison his school's food.

We cannot turn back the hands of time. There are some inherent problems that can be linked back to slavery and its effect on the family. Our culture, however vibrant and rich, perpetuates a cycle of marginalisation, poverty for the majority, single-parenthood which is mostly matriarchal, absentee fathers and the glorification of “badness”. Our children are affected as they become products of their environment. They are forged by their surroundings and moulded into patterns that are almost irreparable.

I am close to a young man that goes to a training institution, where he boards in the central region of the island. He wears two pants — shorts with pockets and school pants — at all times, even to his bed. In the short time that he has been there, he has replicated this behaviour at his home. Why? If he leaves his things in the locker or on his bed or anywhere for that matter, the other students steal them. Their young innocence has been stolen in ways some of us cannot imagine and would prefer not to. However it all comes down to parenting. Children did not ask to be here; they were simply produced by mindless children themselves.

Despite being at the age to know the simple difference between good and bad, I heard of a little boy —no more than six or seven — who went for counselling. He was asked what he would like to become. His response, “mi waan tief clothes offa line like mi fada”.

What will happen when God returns and asks for an account of what we have done for to and for His children? As it will be the public that facing the onslaught; divine intervention will be needed with a little community parenting.

C Campbell

UWI student

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