Jamaica Observer

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to a story entitled "JDIP gives way to MIDP" published in the Jamaica Observer dated Friday, August 9, 2013.

In the interest of fairness and clarity, I would like to highlight some inaccuracies and seeming distortions in the piece.

Let me start with the paragraph which states:

I am mystified as to the origins of the statement concerning the removal a stipulation in the agreement. The process continues whereby when specified tasks are completed, payment certificates are generated following the verification that work has been satisfactorily done. Let me state categorically that this requirement will continue under the Major Infrastructural Development Programme (MIDP). In fact discussions are taking place with the objective of strengthening this process.

Then comes the curiously worded, "Both Davies and the National Works Agency (NWA) have tried to convince Parliament that they are doing all that is required of them, and that any problem with the payments is due to the delays caused by China Ex-Im Bank's due diligence..."

I am assuming here that this is a reference to the statement I made in Parliament on July 16 in response to allegations from MP Mike Henry that sub-contractors who had worked on JDIP had not been paid for fluctuations. In that statement, I highlighted that:

- The contract pertaining to JDIP was signed among the Ministry of Transport and Works (the owner/client), the National Works Agency (the Engineers) and China Harbour (the contractor)

- There is no direct contractual relationship between the Ministry of Transport, Works & Housing/National Works Agency and the sub-contractors

- Any communication from sub-contractors concerning amounts being queried must follow the appropriate channels, ie to the contractor CHEC and subsequently to the ministry and CHEC

- Two such claims concerning fluctuations have been received thus far from CHEC and they have been honoured.

- Based on the contractual arrangement, the ministry would receive claims for fluctuation from the contractor (CHEC); the ministry has not received any claim subsequent to the two aforementioned.

- The ministry vigorously refutes the assertion made by Mr Henry that "payments, long overdue to Grade 1 Subcontractors for legitimate fluctuations on JDIP contracts, have been purposely delayed by the National Works Agency for the possible purpose of accommodating payments to JEEP contractors".

In relation to Karl Samuda's comments that: "The delays are due to the government's inability to meet its part of the deal", this ministry categorically repudiates any such assertion. In fact, I will go one step further to say that the 15 per cent portion from the Government has always been paid over on a timely basis.

We also take issue with the suggestion that the exploration of another payment arrangement between CHEC and China Ex-Im Bank would be tantamount to removing one of the provisions in place to protect the programme against corruption. The fact is that the system, as it now exists, is not perfect, hence the search for a more efficient way to handle the payment arrangement. As to the correlation between the two things, I stand ready to be enlightened.

Dr the Hon Omar Davies

Minister of Transport, Works & Housing

Clearing the air on JDIP, MDIP

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Dear Editor,

The decision to confer the Order of Jamaica on Reverend Ashley Smith is indeed a fitting tribute and highest recognition for the outstanding contribution that he has made to the history and development of Jamaica. His well-documented contribution to the intellectual political thought which has shaped Jamaica's socio-political history is also noteworthy.

Even more significantly, his excellent scholarly contribution to the work of the Presbyterian Church and, theology in general, has earned him local, regional and international recognition which is well deserved.

More importantly, his humility and love for humanity and care for the advancement of the welfare of the people of Jamaica and his intellectual and humanitarian posture on social issues has benefited this country and its leaders in the post-independence era.

Reverend Smith will forever be acknowledged, not only as an eminent theologian and scholar, but also as a visionary who guided our leaders in the way of social conscience and nation building.

Phillipa Lawrence

St Andrew

Rev Ashley Smith worthy of OJ

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Dear Editor,

I read the article "UTech opens Western Campus HQ at historic Baptist Manse" in yesterday's (August 15) edition and wish to make the following addition.

Renovation/preservation of the property began in the 1990s, nearly 10 years before your story alleges. It was undertaken by the William Knibb Trust, jointly formed by the Jamaica Baptist Union and the Hart family of Montego Bay. This was the source of the initial funds to do the preservation work.

I served as secretary of the Trust from its inception until the end of 2005. Falmouth Heritage Renewal, to which the property was sub-leased, came on the scene long after much of the preservation work was complete. What they did was to configure the interior to fulfil their purposes of both housing and training students in the preservation of historic buildings and structures.

I hope this further educates your readers.

Eron Henry

eronhenry@yahoo.com

Baptist Manse was already on the mend

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Dear Editor,

I was a bit startled to read the Observer news report "Reinvent yourselves, Thwaites tells unemployed teachers" on August 5, 2013. The minister of education, speaking at a job fair at the ministry's office, was basically telling over 1,000 unemployed teachers "to look elsewhere for work".

Now, we are well aware of the economic crisis facing the country, but the education sector is perhaps the most critical. Yet, ironically, it is perhaps the most crucial for propelling Jamaica's development.

Shouldn't the ministry and Government be looking at innovative ways to use these teachers to help the education sector which has been problematic for some time? I believe it is Government that needs to reinvent itself. Isn't it startling that a country of our size would have as many as 1,000 unemployed teachers turning up at a job fair as they can't find work in education?

Frankly, I would set up learning facilities in outdoor tents if I had to; there are so many students struggling from early education to GSAT and CSEC levels. Our literacy rate is also well beyond that of other Caribbean countries. According to Wikipedia, Jamaica's literacy rate is 87.9 per cent, while Barbados is 99 per cent, and the difference in standard of living and economic progress between both countries is well known.

Each year we also hear of thousands of students in Jamaica who fail to pass even one subject in CSEC. And the minister is proudly telling these teachers to reinvent themselves and that the "days of walking out of university and straight into job" are over? I just don't get it!

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com

How about reinventing yourselves?

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Dear Editor,

As a high school teacher, I believe that it is wrong to measure schools by CXC results alone. There are many factors that affect a student's preformance at school and in exams. The schools in the top 20 may have facilities that are not available in other schools. These top schools may also have parental support that is lacking elsewhere.

Support includes parents who pay school fees, attend PTA meetings, interact with the subject teachers, and supervise their children. It goes also to when weakness are detected, parents in top schools may respond by sending their children to evening and Saturday classes. These children are often properly fed and/or have stable family lives.

Unfortunately, there are schools where students come from struggling single-parent homes, do not attend school regularly, don't have enough to eat, cannot purchase books, and are not properly supervised, especially after school.

I think we are too caught with passing exams and do not look at the whole picture. We should be more concerned about moving a child from point A to full potential. What about a child with talent, how do we address this? What is in place to help the child balance a talent of football, cricket or track & field with academics? Should a child who is interested in hairdressing or dressmaking receive this type of training and not be considered successful when he or she passes the exams?

We need to stop thinking of the skilled person as dunces, because they are not tallied in CXC passes. They are just students who chose an area based on their interests. Please think on these things.

Peat Brown

St Catherine

brown_peat@yahoo.com

Schools more than CXC results

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Dear Editor,

Of late we Jamaicans have been flirting with the idea of "divine intervention for crime reduction" as stated by National Security Minister Peter Bunting. Prior to advancing along this road, however, perhaps we should have a look at the ills perpetrated and perpetuated worldwide by religion.

It is one thing to view a small geographical area and say religion has reduced crime, but what about the many millions who have died and are still dying as a result of the countless wars and divisions caused by religion from time immemorial? And what about the instances of ethnic cleansing and genocide sprinkled generously throughout the Bible, purportedly on the instructions of God? Don't these scenarios sound eerily similar to the one that played out between the United States and Iraq? Incidentally, how many weapons of mass destruction were actually found?

It wouldn't come as a surprise if Christians took solace in referencing the Bible to justify slavery or any other division. Wasn't it the same God of the Bible that divided the people in the first place? Don't take my word for it, read Gen 11 vrs 6-7.

Religion engenders constant divisions and any study of history will confirm this fact. We see today Sunnis fighting against Shiites, Christians against Muslins, Muslims against Hindus, Israelis against Palestinians, and the list goes on. Not so long ago there were Christians fighting against Protestants. Religion was a good excuse that allowed us Africans to be captured and enslaved. But how many lives were lost? Looking at apartheid as another example, weren't the ruling class religious people? At the end of the day if we were to weigh the lives lost against lives saved because of religious intervention, in which direction would the scale be tipped?

My humble advice to our goodly Minister Bunting, and other like-minded individuals, is to stop looking to belief systems for solutions, and instead look within self. Dig deep and devise meaningful strategies that will yield the desired results the nation craves. New York did it so it is not beyond us. If we continue to abdicate our responsibilities, as adults, what examples are we setting for our children? Eventually creativity and hard work will become things of the past. After returning to Singapore from a visit to Jamaica Lee Kuan Yew's speech to his people proved rather interesting. Among other things he told them that when slavery was abolished the Jamaicans abolished hard work with it. Fact or fiction, Mr Bunting?

Fitzroy Whyte,

Mandeville, Manchester

littled_1969@yahoo.com

Beliefs kill, but do they cure?

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Dear Editor,

Parliament is now in summer recess, but it is significant that the member of parliament for West Kingston, Mr Desmond McKenzie, has failed to ask for a debate about what Government intends to do about compensation for the physical destruction committed by the security forces in his constituency in 2010.

The then prime minister, through Cabinet, instructed the Ministry of Finance to make payments to residents for property damage, for burial, for the market, and as a result nearly $90 million was paid out.

This amount does not in any way address the damage done to the property of those who received np compensation whatsoever, those who were inadequately compensated, and those who were physically damaged and cannot afford expensive medication which they must take for the rest of their lives.

Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding. by instructing payment to these residents, has admitted liability on behalf of the state and the state now has a moral and legal obligation to fully comply with the spirit of this admission of state culpability.

So, are we now witnessing a callous convergence between the two parties that these victims are of no consequence? The Government, for example, has refused my Acces To Information request to release the documentation which authorises payment. Very convenient.

The member of parliament for the area is uniquely positioned to influence this aspect of justice for the residents, and it is time for him to focus on how to truly join the struggle for justice.

Lloyd D'Aguilar

on behalf of the Tivoli Committee

Justice for West Kingston residents

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Dear Editor,

Help JA Children (HJC) continues to be concerned about the ambiguity surrounding the role of the Child Development Agency (CDA) in the care and protection of the nation's most vulnerable children.

We consider this concern even more pressing as the Public Services Commission prepares to appoint a new CEO of the agency and more and more children continue to be in desperate need of care and protection.

Unless the country is provided with a clarification of the CDA's role, the agency is almost certainly asking any new CEO appointed to embark on a fool's errand. Without a clear clarification of its role, the CDA will invariably continue to fail our children, a luxury the nation can ill afford.

HJC wrote to the CDA's Chairman Maxine Henry-Wilson over a year ago seeking clarification. We were promised a timely response, but that has not materialised. We reiterated that call at a press conference earlier this year, and have still yet to receive any response.

We consider this delay and silence unacceptable and indicative of ignorance as to what precisely the CDA is charged with. We now urge Minister Hanna to direct the board to ensure that prior to any announcement of a new CEO, the roles and responsibilities are properly clarified. We believe this is the only way the CDA will play any meaningful role in caring for, and protecting Jamaica's children.

Brandon Allwood

allwoodb@helpjachildren.org

CDA's role must be made clear

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Dear Editor,

On August 17, 1887, St Ann gave birth to Marcus Mosiah Gavey Jnr. This man later became a journalist, publisher, councillor, founder of Jamaica's first modern political party (People's Political Party), founder of the United Negro Improvement Association and a national hero.

As a man of humble beginnings, Garvey demonstrated that education, a clear vision, and ambition forms the vehicle for upward mobility. His belief that our strength to make a change rested in our ability to unite as a people catapulted him into the icon he is today.

This measure of a man, as described by his own father, was 'severe, bold and strong, refusing to yield to superior forces if he believed he was right', lending credence to the argument that one should do what is right and not what is popular. It is important that as young people we strive to emulate these characteristics if we intend to effect any meaningful change within our society.

As a youth organization, we embrace Marcus Garvey as an inspiration because of his tireless efforts to honour and execute his beliefs regarding the upliftment of the black nation. Garvey's statement, 'Up you mighty race, accomplish what you will', speaks volumes to the power that we have as individuals and as a people. Therefore, in true Garvey fashion, we challenge the young people of Jamaica not to yield to their present circumstances, but be consistent in developing themselves, to inspire someone around them, to get involved in the process so that we may become the agents of positive change.

The teachings of Marcus Garvey are as pertinent now as they were years ago and as such it is our hope that young people will be inspired on this the celebration of his birth to become visionaries, independent, proactive thinkers and great leaders.

The St Ann Chapter of Generation 2000 lauds the contribution of this our first National Hero on his 126th birthday.

Farah Blake

Chairperson

Generation 2000 (G2K) -- St Ann

Be like Garvey

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Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Education Job Fair was a slap in the face to trained, unemployed teachers. Many frustrated unemployed teachers journeyed from as far as Hanover to the Ministry of Education office in Kingston to attend a job fair. They seemed highly motivated based on the prospect of meeting various employers so as to secure interviews.

These teachers left feeling insulted by comments made by Minister Ronald Thwaites and the argumentative tone he used to articulate himself. The minister has led this group of teachers to believe that he is not empathic to their situation and he is at war with the teachers who are currently in the system.

These trained teachers have now accepted the reality that there will be no teaching jobs available for the next three years. These teachers need viable job opportunities so that they can gain meaningful employment.

Minister Ronald Thwaites placed emphasis on voluntarism. but let's be realistic. Even though voluntarism can be one way of securing a job, it is not suited for everyone. There are many of these teachers who took loans to attend school, borrowed monies from family members, have family dependents, and have not yet settle the balance on their tuition fees. What these teachers want is to secure a job, it may not pay much but, in the interim, it can help clear their debts.

The unemployment crisis in Jamaica has reached soaring levels; it needs to be adequately addressed. It cannot be that quick fixes and short-term alternatives are sought to remedy this problem; long-term feasible solutions are needed. These teachers were frustrated before the job fair; they are now left feeling disappointed, upset and discouraged. The Minister of Education and his ministry has added further insult to injury.

S A Williams

Santa Cruz

shana.williams26@yahoo.com

Job fair was insult to injury

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Dear Editor,

We are issuing a challenge to Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington and a call to minister of national security Peter Bunting.

We are challenging CP Ellington to deny the following:

1. That police posts are increasingly being established as a long-lasting crime-control instrument rather than a stopgap;

2. That police practice of street barricades and police posts in a resident's vacated house or community centre turn communities into virtual detention zones and threaten people's legitimate freedom of movement;

3. That in the first seven months of 2013 (to August 3) police killed 146 civilians, that they killed similar numbers in 2010 (in addition to the 73 in Tivoli Gardens), 2011 and 2012, and that a high percentage of them occurred in very questionable circumstances suggesting extrajudicial killings;

4. That the police high command has given promotions to senior officers with a notable record of such killings under their supervision;

5. That only recently has the same high command required the authorisation of field commanders for the use of masks after, for years, denying their usage by some police, especially in cases of questionable fatalities;

6. That senior police are also known to follow up the execution of a community crew leader with death threats to other leaders, as is currently occurring in the East Kingston division and provoking counter-threats;

7. That, notwithstanding these steps and other repressive measures, for the past three years police have not been able to reduce the rate of murder from the three per day average to which it fell after Christopher Coke left Tivoli in late May 2010;

8. That five police organisations appealing the Supreme Court ruling that INDECOM has the power to arrest and charge police officers clearly reveals their desire to have their conduct, some of it outside the law, be exempt from any independent supervision.

We are pressing Minister Bunting to acknowledge:

1. That, as the above facts show, current policing strategy has failed in respect of murder, serious crimes, and that this is most apparent in the 10-a-month murders in Clarendon and St Catherine North so far this year, and the 12-a-month in St James;

2. That the 'clear-hold-build' strategy touted by the JCF has failed also in the West Kingston division, as the monthly murder rate of almost six (eight in South St Andrew, according to JCF statistics) and daily recent events in Denham Town make clear;

3. That the media messages delivered from his ministry, although a good idea, are simply not enough to change engrained practice and culture;

4. That police posts that merely keep gangs or crews from shooting at one another will not solve their and our problem;

5. That executions, death threats, death squads and other repressive tactics simply do not address the roots of the conflicts, the antagonistic traditions and the criminalising process, which is why they are not succeeding in stemming the violence and the murder;

6. That contrary to his promise made in early 2012 of a new paradigm, the course now being pursued is very much the old paradigm and that his 19-month trial of it should have shown his business mind its deficiency;

7. That there is a crisis of violence and murder in this land and that a truly new paradigm of crime prevention, is desperately needed; that the suffering of our people cries out for the staunching of their pain, for the better life too that an economy not hurt by violent crime would bring, in sum for justice;

8. That, for example, an out-of-the-box request to the Ministry of Finance to shift $2 billion from his security ministry's $40 billion allocation to the Ministry of Justice, which receives only $4 billion, would shorten the length of time court cases take, and end both the frustration tempting some police into gross extrajudicial executions and the impunity encouraging and allowing many delinquents and criminals to literally get away with murder and robbery;

9. That an out-of-the-box alternative strategy respectful of firm community policing and the central authority of the state, but focused on community people development, rather than community gang suppression, exists in Jamaica in small pockets. It is illustrated in the work of under-resourced agencies such as Children First and Peace Management Initiative. Their humane and creative strategies deserve to be closely studied and heard.

It is time for Mr Bunting and Mr Ellington to give public response to the facts, points and proposals made above. It is high time for them to knock heads with civil society and the private sector in order to come up with an effective preventive strategy to replace the failure of repression. Can they, will they, rise to the challenge?

Horace Levy

For Messrs Ellington and Bunting

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Dear Editor,

We tend to hear more about male athletes and their success than women — for some strange reason. Jamaicans everywhere were excited and just beaming over Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce triple success at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow. She is now one of three women worldwide who have ever been able to cop the double of both 100m and 200m at this international meet.

She did herself and country proud ranking herself amongst the worlds top athletes — male and female. Although she received some media coverage, interviews etc, its definitely not as intense as the much-sought-after Bolt. Hopefully someday women athletes will be just as sought after, its definitely a journey.

We must say, well done Shelly-Ann, so proud of what you've achieved to date. Your charm, humility, determination are outstanding — not to mention the statement hair colour which stood out on the track!

You've become another Jamaican we're so very proud of!

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com

Well done, Shelly-Ann

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Dear Editor,

Recently, Educatejamaica.org published a report highlighting the "best" and "poorest" performing schools in the island. Schools were ranked based on the number of students graduated with five or more Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) subjects. Essentially, institutions that had the highest number of students to have obtained five or more subjects are, according to Educatejamaica.org, "the schools where your child is most likely to have the greatest level of success", with the converse true.

In making these correlations, the researchers seemingly disregarded a number of glaring variables. In the end, they fed us a parochial and spurious assessment, and, sadly, many of us have gulped it down unquestioningly.

First, the study preempted the 2013 release of the CSEC results, and as such there was no consideration of the noted improvements in this year's sitting of the examinations. Nevertheless, the title of the research boldly projects "Academic Champions 2013". And as if readers were not sufficiently beguiled, the subtitle furthered the intent with "Helping you choose the best school for your child". Certainly, since many parents are already using GSAT and CSEC grades as the yardsticks of "brightness" and "dunceness", they have been further hoodwinked into believing that institutions milling out the best CSEC passes are the best and the most suitable for their children, regardless of their offsprings' needs and abilities.

The report is even more unsettling due to its overt oversight of the disparities among many of the schools and the potential impact of such on students' performances. The most dominant variables include the following: the academic capacity of students enrolled at the institutions, instructional resources, and the socio-economic background of students. In light of this, we simply cannot make comparisons. The field is too uneven.

The report also conflicts with the National Education Inspectorate's (NEI) assessments. For example, the NEI rated Jamaica College as satisfactory in its overall performance. However, the institution is ranked rather lowly on Educatejamaica's scale. NEI, of course, appears more comprehensive and credible as principals, teachers and students are intimately assessed over a period of time before conclusions are drawn. It is therefore clear where the discrepancy lies.

Besides, we cannot measure students' abilities based on the grades they achieve. Some students simply do not do well under examination conditions, but can apply critical academic content and skills in real-life contexts.

Furthermore, examinations are sometimes flawed by their inherent construction causing students to perform poorly.

Consequently, although Educatejamaica has informed us that the study was conducted by "some of the greatest minds Jamaica has to offer," their research method and their omission of the variables could have easily skewed their findings.

To all educational analysts and researchers, ensure you are objective and comprehensive in your studies and in your representation of emerging data so as to avoid the undue slander and stereotyping of institutions and their members.

Shawna Kay Williams

shawna201@gmal.com

Blessings

Unfair ranking of schools

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Dear Editor,

The 14th IAAF World Championships are over. The medals have been awarded. The amiable and attentive hosts could, on the basis of quality of medals, claim victory. The Americans, who got the most medals (and points), will no doubt say they have "won". However, the undisputed champions may well be Jamaica.

Of the 206 countries (or IAAF member federations) that participated, 38 medalled. Winning, they say, is not everything, but Jamaica ranked third with six gold medals, two silver and one bronze, claiming joint fourth with Germany on points.

Both the Russians and the Americans were outpaced in the sprints by the Jamaicans, by a margin of 6-0. Only 18 countries struck gold and were able to feel that surge of pride and emotions as their national anthems were played.

Jamaica was the only Latin American and Caribbean country in the top ten. In fact, only five other LAC countries (Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) made it onto the medal table. Put another way, Jamaica's performance was superior to that of 203 other countries, and was bettered by only two.

On a medal per capita (MPC) basis, we won one medal for every 301,000 of us. The figure for the USA was one medal for every 12.5 million Americans; Russia 1:8,400,000; and for Kenya, one medal for every 3,218,000 Kenyans. In case you are wondering, China won one medal for every 337,000,000 Chinese. India's 15 athletes are returning home with nothing to show to their 1.2 billion fellow citizens.

If per capita income (PCY), as a sort of proxy for a country's ability to support its athletes, was to be factored — not the strongest of arguments, given the high level of support for athletics in Jamaica — then we bested countries far "richer" than ourselves. Using this criterion, only "poor" Kenya (PCY of $997.00, compared to ours of $5,541.00) performed better than we did.

The PCY of the USA is approximately nine times that of Jamaica; and that of Russia, more than twice that of ours. In other words, with a smaller pool from which to choose, and with fewer financial resources at our disposal, we did exceptionally well and much better than practically all of the competition. This, perhaps, says a lot about the quality of our other resources.

With a contingent of 45 athletes, our strike rate (MPA) was one medal for every five athletes. Russia was one medal for every seven athletes; the USA was one medal for every five athletes; Germany, a medal for every 10 athletes; and Kenya had a medal to athlete ratio of 1:4. However, Djibouti's sole athlete won a medal and the Ivory Coast, which entered 3 athletes, won 2 medals — both silver by Murielle Ahoure in the women's 100 and 200 metres respectively.

Even with all this, the champions of the world, statistically speaking, may not be Jamaica, but Kenya. While we may have out-sprinted the Kenyans in terms of medals per capita, they outpaced us in most other major categories — number of medals, if not quality; points; MPA and PCY. While we owned the sprints, they owned the steeplechase. They have explained their success in terms of teamwork.

In my opinion, our most satisfying performances were also in team events, one of which (the women's 4x100) was the Championship record. That being said, the two most outstanding individual performers were Jamaicans — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt. Mo Farah, perhaps inspired by Jamaica, was brilliant.

Beyond the statistics, there were a few other things. The hosts loved us, we were much admired and respected, and our competitors took notice — quite often from behind. If you were to add the immeasurable excitement, character, attitude, colour, and panache we brought to the games, then we are the Champions of the World! Again.

Audley Rodriques

roddo1958@hotmail.com

We are the champions of the world... again

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Dear Editor,

The dust has once more begun to settle and the flickering particles shine in a complexion reminiscent of golden texture. This texture perhaps has been gleaned from the quality of medals won by Jamaican athletes in the recently completed Moscow World Athletics Championships.

Once more, our athletes, both medallists and non-medallists alike, went, saw and conquered, and in the process left the world once more in awe of our athletic prowess.

In all the deserved glory and tireless celebrations, however, it must not be lost on us as a people that there exists a gargantuan chasm between our sporting and cultural achievements and our socio-economic progression. The unswerving truth and absolute crux of the matter is that unless we as a nation decide to make those necessary decisions which are vital to our collective progression, especially in an economic sense, then I am afraid that there will come a time when no amount of gold medals and sporting prowess will be enough to save us.

We need to start now to ensure we gain ground in the regional education race, for we have sat in the blocks for too long. Surely we need to now seek to get in the race for economic growth and development; sitting in the stands and cheering on our regional competitors has not served us well. While other nations around us have long honed in on gold, silver and bronze in the race for development, sadly, we lag behind, off the pace and out the race. The only salvageable hope is that this race for development is not a sprint, for this reason alone we still have a chance.

Noel Forbes Matherson

noelmatherson@gmail.com

Good Champs, but what of the race for development?

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Dear Editor,

Unless the right persons are deployed in the various areas of the educational sphere, areas of critical importance will not achieve set targets in relation to national policies and implementations.

We have a significant problem in Jamaica with the teaching and learning of mathematics and several tools have been employed to remedy the situation. However, primary-trained educators ought to be assisting at the elementary level, not just secondary-trained personnel. It is of grave significance that policymakers and implementers avoid favouritism and nepotism in the deployment of experts in this crucial area.

Moreover, reference is being made to the plethora of secondary-trained personnel being deployed in primary schools across the length and breadth of the island as mathematics specialists, yet results in the subject are still stuttering below 60 per cent at the GSAT level, and just above 40 per cent at the CSEC level.

Secondary-based methodology in the teaching/learning of mathematics concepts and content does not necessarily work for every child at the primary level. Most of these specialists' approach to mathematics caters to "bright" students -- who only make up a small percentage of primary cohorts preparing for GSAT each year. The result is therefore that the majority of students, who are really struggling, are still being left behind.

Besides, specialists tend to focus more on the teaching of content than on the learning of concepts. There are qualified and competent individuals within the elementary setting of the education system who are willing to dispense of their expertise in the field of mathematics teaching/learning, yet they are being ignored and their competence is left dormant.

There is an urgent need for the application of conceptual understanding, deductive reasoning and problem-solving in the execution of mathematics skills/strategies in the methods being employed by these specialists.

Primary level-trained educators are deemed best suited to deliver quality teaching/learning techniques in mathematics education at the primary level. In essence, primary-trained individuals with aptitude in mathematics have the paedological know-how at this level. Consequently, it is highway robbery for parents to have to fork out thousands of dollars to obtain private assistance for their children in the preparation of mathematics at the GSAT and CSEC levels, even though they are being sent to public institutions to acquire an education. Even so, these students, after sitting such exams, are for the most part unable to make the transition to the next level of their education journey.

As educators, we need to get off our high horses and do what is best for getting our nations education on par to that of a Singapore, and beyond. Hence, mathematics teaching and learning must be delivered from a conceptual, reasoning and/or problem-solving approach to effectively guide each learner's thinking and understanding of the concepts -- not just content -- from one level to the next.

In concluding, this particularly critical approach to nation-building ought to mirror how students learn in classrooms everywhere.

Laje Moore

hmoorefrenzy@yahoo.com

Deployment of math experts flawed

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Dear Editor,

I saw something unfold online which amazed me just as much as that brilliant final relay leg run by our very own Javon Francis at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

A poster in response to a YouTube video online, showing Rosemarie Whyte committing an infraction, had made the point that the disqualification of our women's 4X400m relay team was entirely justified.

The poster also expressed dismay at attempts by the Jamaican officials to exploit loopholes to have the decision reversed via technicalities. Going even further, the poster suggested that some form of ban be imposed on the runner for committing the offence.

Even if the runner in question was fresh out of high school, to commit such an offence at this level and on such a stage speaks volumes. Still, while I am not in agreement with the ban, I entirely endorse the rest of what the poster wrote. There are rules in place at these games for a reason, and our challenging this one leaves a sour taste in my mouth. It appears our officials wanted to get by on a technicality, despite the glaring fact that our athlete had broken a rule. This strikes me as eerily similar to what is currently being played out in our justice system, where lawyers are becoming adept at exploiting loopholes to free people who are guilty.

What really amazed me in all of this however, is the vitriolic response to the valid points the poster had raised. It leaves me to seriously wonder if cheating has now become encoded into the DNA of Jamaicans, bar none. Despite the stellar achievements of the Bolts and Fraser-Pryces out there, at times I really am ashamed to be a Jamaican.

Robert Mitchell

Manchester

mitcib@yahoo.ca

Jamaica loses another stripe

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Dear Editor,

I went to the Constant Spring Office of the Inland Revenue Department on Monday, August 19 to collect a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), which I had applied for in mid July. I was told by the supervisor on duty that, although the card had been signed by the then commissioner, Mrs Viralee Bailey Latibeaudiere, they could not deliver the card to me because they had received a directive not issue any cards signed by the lady — apparently due to the current legal impasse — and could not state definitively when this would change.

It means, therefore, that I, and others I am sure, will just have to wait. We are being negatively impacted in several ways because of this poorly thought out directive:

1. The time wasted in leaving my office to join a line at the tax office — and which I will have to do again whenever they see it fit to release the document

2. My inability to conduct business with the revenue agencies and my financial institutions because of the lack of a TRN.

3. The non-acceptance of new applications for TRNs, etc until the dispute is resolved.

For the life of me I cannot understand why the general public should be held to ransom in this dispute between Mrs Latibeaudiere and her employers (the Government) — especially those who transacted business with the department before her untimely dismissal — as the signature would have placed on the card while she was still a bona fide employee and authorised signer.

If this dispute continues for another two or three months, are we to expect that no new TRNs and other applications will be honoured in that time? This directive is so short-sighted, as there is no need to suspend the distribution. No matter the outcome of the case, at some point a different commissioner will be put in place.

Ministry of Finance get your act together.

Dean C Wiggan

wiggy_dw@hotmail.com

Taxpayers held hostage in impasse

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Dear Editor,

Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) strongly endorses the calls and the challenge contained in the letter from Mr Horace Levy published in your newspaper on Sunday, August 18, 2013.

JFJ too has been seriously concerned about the outcomes of far too many police operations where not only have significant numbers of our citizens been killed, but the constitutional and human rights of scores of other citizens have been infringed.

Our concern is further heightened, as clearly all of this could not possibly be the result of new 21st century tactics and strategies by the Jamaica Constabulary Force under the leadership of Commissioner Ellington.

If these are the "new" tactics and strategies, they have led to the appalling statistic highlighted in Mr Levy's letter of 146 persons killed by the police in 2013 up to August 3. At this rate almost 250 persons will die at the hands of the police before the end of this year.

Despite these repressive tactics and appalling rate of fatal shootings "for the past three years police have not been able to reduce the rate of murder from the three per day average to which it fell after Christopher Coke left Tivoli in late May 2010".

In the face of these failing and rights-abusing tactics, the minister of national security, Peter Bunting, has failed to live up to his promise of "a new paradigm" for security. The course being pursued by his ministry, including the dissolving of the Implementation Oversight Committee for the JCF Strategic Review without putting anything in its place, and patently without achieving the goal of a reformed Jamaica Police Service, is very much the old paradigm of top down rule and lack of consultation.

The 19 months of his tenure as minister of national security should have shown him the failings of these strategies.

JFJ supports Mr Levy's call "for Mr Bunting and Mr Ellington to give public response to the facts, points and proposals" he makes. It is past time for the effective implementation of rights-respecting strategies focused on community people development and based on properly institutionalised community-based policing.

To do that requires comprehensive police reform as part of an effective crime prevention strategy involving all relevant stakeholders in Jamaica. We wonder, like Mr Levy, if they can and will rise to the challenge?

Carolyn Gomes

Executive Director

Jamaicans For Justice

Will Messrs Bunting and Ellington rise to Mr Levy's challenge?

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