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Speak to us PM, speak

December 17, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

I read with disgust statements made by Dr Carlton Davis, printed in the Daily Observer of Monday, December 16, 2013, regarding why the prime minister has to travel, and further by Sandrea Falconer that the Government needs a new communication strategy.

May I submit that those statements are pure rubbish!

All the Government needs to do is to have our prime minister, who was duly elected by the people, take the time to talk to us.

We do not need to find funds to pay a new set of consultants to come up with new strategies. And, with due respect to Dr Davis, we really do not want him to explain why she has to travel. We know it comes with the territory. What we want is to engage our leader in discussions about these trips. Is that too much to ask?

I suggest that each time the prime minister goes on a trip on behalf of her country, she calls a press conference and shares with the country the details of her assignment. That way we do not have to question anything, or reporters would not need to be hunting her down, because everything would be laid out on the table.

The people of Jamaica are not saying that the prime minister should not go on these trips but, in all fairness to us, we are really the ones who send her abroad in the first place. She is obligated to talk to us. Press briefings carried out in her absence or reports to Parliament will not suffice.

This, Ms Falconer, is my humbly submitted 'no-cost' strategy. Over to you.

Lone Soldier

ligro_jj@yahoo.com

Speak to us PM, speak

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Don't waste our chicken foot soup

December 18, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Usually when you meet people from overseas the first thing they immediately tell you is that they know about Bob Marley. They believe that when they tell you that, you will think that they can relate to you and so it will make you more comfortable to carry on a conversation with them.

They will also tell you, with pride, that they used to smoke pot in college, and then they will ask if you have ever smoked it. Believe it or not, in 2013 people still believe that all we do in Jamaica, aside from scamming old people, is smoke weed, lie on the beach all day, and listen to Bob Marley. This is changing slightly, though, since Tessanne entered The Voice competition and made a conscious effort not to speak with an American accent — like many who spend one minute in America.

Tessanne decided to go authentic, and they cannot get enough of her. I strongly believe she is the new Bob Marley. Tessanne is smart, she knows that she could very well be passed for one of those American singers, but she wants to make the distinction clear, and so the only way to do that is to be herself. Now everyone wants to know if I know her... I am trying to answer honestly.

I was on a train the other day and I was very bored and tired. I wanted something to amuse me, and so I started listening to everyone's conversation. The problem with that, though, was that nobody was speaking English. So I am sitting there and my phone rang and I decided to speak 'straight' patois. I went down in some patois from Montego Bay, and wrap if up with some from Clarendon, then seal it with a bad piece from Trelawny. Believe me when I tell you that even my sister on the other end of the conversation could not understand some of the patois. I pulled from Bounty dictionary and neat and fine it up with a little of Beenie Man bad grammar. I was proud of myself. I felt like an authentic Jamaican, which, away from home, is very empowering.

So after that experience on the train, I was telling someone that I was going home to cook some chicken foot soup. She said, 'no, you mean chicken feet'. So I told her don't pluralise it, 'ah chicken foot it name'. She went on to ask me about what we eat in Jamaica. Of course I left out the typical answer which is ackee and salt fish. I went straight Trelawny on her. I told her about the nice cow tongue, tripe and bean, chicken liver, cho-cho and salt fish, run down with tu'n cornmeal, fry chicken back, red herring, roast yam and corn, blue draws, stinking toe, and plenty other food that even some very Jamaicans don't know. She was shocked out of her clothes. I told her that those foods are a delicacy in Jamaica and only rich people eat it. Yes, I know that is not true, but we need to market the country differently. We need to use what is unique to us and sell the country. Everybody in the world eats chicken meat, but how many eat the foot, or feet?

Now she wants to come to Jamaica for the food... and the men. I am just doing my civic duty, don't judge me.

I cannot sing like Tessanne, cannot run like Shelly-Ann, but if I can promote the country in any little way, I am all for it, because you do not know how valuable your country is until you visit another and realise that not all chickens are made equal.

Shornee Carnegie

shornee1610@hotmail.com

Don't waste our chicken foot soup

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A bloody Christmas season

December 18, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Despite the fact that, Christmas means the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, I must confess that many of us will not have a good Christmas, because this terrible and everlasting monster, called crime, continues steadfastly to raise its ugly head, presumptuously.

No way can we have a merry Christmas when another 1000-odd Jamaicans have been killed.

As the year draws to a close the crime problem is so devastating that there seems to be no hope of turning it around.

The country is plastered, flattened and bombarded with splashing waves of crimes and scores of deaths which are running directly into the Christmas season and does not seem set to abate for the new year.

The Christmas season has been significantly ruined by a stigma of blood and mayhem. And for many, the pains and agonies of deaths, fear and uncertainty have made their season look as dark as midnight rather than the traditional brignt. It's like they are drinking from a glass of bitter gall.

The tides of gloom and uncertainty seem to have the upper hand, rather than the tides for hope and solution.

We are still at square one with this massive crime plague; no remedy in sight. We certainly have a Goliath on our hands and we are finding it so darn difficult to defeat him. The State need its own giants to defeat this great enemy.

Donald J McKoy

donaldmckoy2010@hotmail.com

A bloody Christmas season

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Ode to Tessanne

December 18, 2013, 3:00 am
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Tessanne, you can never say, I Have Nothing after tonight

And although you had Many Rivers to Cross,

You sure did Try

As you have crossed the Bridge Over Troubled Waters

We know you are Stronger from all of this

You don't have to wonder, If I Were Your Woman?

You will be the only Voice left to hear

Every performance has been a Redemption Song

Somehow freeing our souls

Don't think, who will be Next to Me?'

There will be no one.

Underneath It All, Jamaicans really love you Unconditionally

We know with your kind spirit you can say, that's My Kind of Love

Tonight, you walk into your destiny

Just wait and see

And, Let It Be.

Nicola Carara

ncar2009@aol.com

Ode to Tessane

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Let's rally Team Jamaica

December 18, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Jamaica we can do it. Yes we can do it. We can rally the troops, every last one of us can change Jamaica, one team Tessanne at a time.

Look at what one voice has done to the whole nation, here and abroad. She has brought us together like nothing else could.

Look at how "wen wi back ah ting noting can stop us".

We have called all our relatives overseas: "madda, fadda, bredda, sista, auntie, cousin," every last one of them. The message: vote, vote, vote for Tessanne. The instructions have gone out.

We are everwhere on social media and then there is "Dutty Berry" on YouTube, etc, spreading the word of Miss Chinita Goodaz.

Electricity went offline in some areas of the Corporate Area yesterday (Tuesday, December 17) and comments were heard: "JPS betta mek sure seh light come back fi wi watch Tessanne tonight!"

Tessanne has captured the hearts of our Jamaican people. We are so proud of her achievement, and what a display of oneness of vision.

Jamaica, we can do it. Imagine this nation working together as one, one heart bubbling over with one mission: to be the best people of warmth, care and love. Bob Marley said it to us years ago: One love, One heart , let's get together......

We can do it, one team Tessanne at a time.

Millicent Battick

Kingston 19

sbat65@gmail.com

Let's rally Team Jamaica

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Water more than flour

December 19, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Congrats to Vernon Davidson, Observer's executive editor, for the excellent investigative piece last Sunday, December 15, 2013, sub-titled 'NWC costs soar under questionable circumstances'.

This has led to the exposure of the scandalous slackness taking place at the National Water Commission. It is apparent that this happened under the watch of Mr Albert Gordon, who has since been promoted to the position of director general of the Office of Utilities Regulation — the utilities watchdog!

Amazing! Only in Jamaica. Let's hope the contractor general will be taking some interest in the contracts issued by the the NWC over the past few years.

Hope to hear the NWC explanation.

Joan E Williams

gratestj@gmail.com

Water more than flour

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Like the judge said... and them too

December 19, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

The article carried by the Observer on December 14, entitled 'Judge accuses journalist of promoting criminality' was an interesting one.

To be very frank, I do have that same opinion as Judge Panton. I always say that there is a list of elements that contribute to Jamaica's problems, and journalists are on the list.

Media sensationalism sells newspapers, and I am not going to sit here and say Jamaica's journalists are the only ones doing that.

"We have a situation where media houses are, in my view, in many instances, encouraging criminality. Why do I say that? They promote individuals who may be suspect in criminal activities at a level which is unbecoming," said Justice Panton. For example, Vybz Kartel and the four other men are accused of murder and one would think that only Kartel is on trial. Every time you read about the case you only see "Kartel trial" and his photo, even though one can see that he's handcuffed with one of the other accused men. Why are the newspapers showing only Kartel's photo? I am no fan of his, but it is unfair to him that journalists in Jamaica are using this bad news to sell their papers.

I am no fan of the gay lifestyle either, but our journalists seem to get strength whenever news of gays are involved. You have to wonder if these journalist strive on negativity like Justice Panton mentioned. Our journalists are not only promoting criminality, but they are also hypocrites.

They are also responsible for the bad state of our football. They are so confused that they are writing positive things about our present JFF president even though it is crystal clear that the president is doing a bad job. None of them ever grill the president about his suspension by FIFA.

Our journalists are doing everything upside down. It is true that journalists are between a rock and a hard place, but that doesn't give them the right to write news just to sell newspapers or write news just to appeal to certain persons in society.

Even though I condemned our journalists, it is fair to say our judges are not far behind. As a matter of fact, I am of the opinion that they promote more criminality in Jamaica than our journalists. A few years ago a man was accused of abusing a child over a two-year period. After presenting a character witness he walked from court with a suspended sentence. There are many occasions where judges seemingly 'side' with criminals, which is why Justice Panton might want to pick the beam out of his colleagues' eyes while pinpointing journalists.

Hero Scott

herocarlito@yahoo.com

Like the judge said... and them too

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Tessanne shows our potential

December 19, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Once again a great Jamaican, this time Tessanne Chin, has shone on the world stage and demonstrated that Jamaicans are world beaters.

And now, we will see the politicians jumping over each other to get on her bandwagon to try and benefit from her personal achievements, something in which they played no part.

Tessaane's success has again exposed for the world to see that it is poor leadership which has plagued this country since Independence and limited our success. For it is poor leadership that has put us on the top of the corruption and murder pile, destroying the potential of so many of our super-talented people, while the cultist followers would have us honour those who have been the architects of our destruction. For it is the garrison politicians and their willing collaborators in the two major parties who have brought Jamaica to the criminal level that the country has sunk. The garrisons are the incubators in which slavery is even being practised today with the blessings of some of our so called leaders, present and past.

Tessaane's success has again exposed for the world to see that it is poor leadership which has plagued this country since Independence and limited our success. For it is poor leadership that has put us on the top of the corruption and murder pile, destroying the potential of so many of our super-talented people, while the cultist followers would have us honour those who have been the architects of our destruction. For it is the garrison politicians and their willing collaborators in the two major parties who have brought Jamaica to the criminal level that the country has sunk. The garrisons are the incubators in which slavery is even being practised today with the blessings of some of our so called leaders, present and past.

Tessane's success did not come about only because of her natural talents, but also because Jamaicans, at home and abroad, found something to rally around. Poor leadership has been clearly the problems for decades, but are we really prepared to shake off the shackles of lethargy and continue to accept the leadership of those who limit us, as we go into the new year?

The magnificent performance of the Tessannes, Shelly-Anns, Bolts and the unexposed talents of the thousands of young Jamaicans here, plus the obvious willingness of those in the diaspora to work with us to help us succeed, should help us bring real truth to our "give us vision lest we perish".

Tessanne shows our potential

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Tessanne's a world-class talent

December 19, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor

Like all Jamaicans here and abroad I am thrilled by Tessanne Chin's success on NBC's The Voice. She is an amazing talent and a natural-born ambassador for this country. She is confident, beautiful and gracious. Tessanne has long been a special, versatile light on the local music scene, but The Voice was the perfect opportunity for her to be accepted as a true world class talent able to sing a variety of musical styles with equal power.

While I love her voice and style, I also love the fact that she has shown the world that Jamaicans defy stereotypes. Tessanne doesn't fit the typical idea of a Jamaican musician or a typical Jamaican period. Yet she is very much a Jamaican born and bred. There's nothing typical about her. She magnificently represents to the world the cultural diversity which our national motto tries to convey.

We enjoyed watching Tessanne perform as a family and that led us into fun group discussions about our favourite songs and bands from the past to present. There was a lot of singing, dancing and laughter in our house the past few months, and with one performance in particular came tears that proved to be cathartic. Underneath it all was the combined pride that Tessanne sparked within us as a people.

Tessanne is simply outstanding. We stand in awe of her talent. We are grateful, too, for the happiness she has ignited in our hearts, which seems to have united us at a time when we badly need hope.

Tessanne, the whole nation supports and congratulates you. We wish you all the best as you continue to soar, holding the Jamaican flag high.

Rebecca Tortello-Greenland

rtortello@hotmail.com

Tessanne's a world-class talent

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Never deny who you are

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

I share in the jubilation of Tessanne's victory on The Voice. She is of impeccable talent. I'm beyond happy for her.

She made us all so proud, not just Jamaicans, but other nationalities outside of the US.

One of the things that annoy me the most is that some of us, as Jamaicans, oftentimes get confused as to who we are, or who we should be as a nation.

The thing is, when one experiences victory the shout is "I'm proud to be a Jamaican!" But when it's defeat, do we still have the same vigour?

Even though things might seem stagnant in our country right now and are not working out as we hoped, we should still be proud Jamaicans.

Victory or defeat. Never deny who you are.

Karen C Peart

Brooklyn, New York

karpeart@yahoo.com

Never deny who you are

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Today is the 354th day of 2013. There are 11 days left in the year.

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHT

1922: Fourteen republics merge to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

OTHER EVENTS

1192: Richard I the Lion-heart, king of England, is captured in Vienna.

1582: The Gregorian calendar is adopted in France.

1790: The first successful cotton mill in the United States begins operating in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

1803: New Orleans flies the American flag for the first time, signalling a transfer of ownership as the Louisiana Territory is handed over to the United States, which purchased it from France.

1830: The London conference of Britain, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia agrees with Belgium on separation from Holland.

1852: British forces annex Pegu, lower Burma, in war with Burmese.

1860: South Carolina becomes the first US state to secede from the Union.

1879: Inventor Thomas Edison privately demonstrates his incandescent light in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

1880: Electric lights are installed throughout Broadway's theatre section.

1944: The Cuban Government agrees with importers to establish a flour subsidy to end shortages that have left Havana without bread.

1957: European Nuclear Energy Agency is founded; Elvis Presley receives army draft notice.

1963: The Berlin Wall opens for the first time to West Berliners, who are allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays.

1973: Spain's Premier Luis Carrero Blanco is killed when assassins bomb his car in Madrid.

1986: Up to 30,000 students march for democracy through streets of Shanghai in China's largest demonstration since the Cultural Revolution.

1987: More than 3,000 people are killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collides with the tanker Vector off Mindoro island, setting off a double explosion.

1989: Some 12,000 U.S. troops arrive in Panama to overthrow the government of General Manuel Antonio Noriega.

1990: Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze resigns suddenly, warning parliament that hard-liners are pushing the country toward dictatorship.

1991: South Africa's government, the African National Congress and other parties begin talks on rewriting the country's Constitution.

1992: Welcomed by thousands of cheering Somalis, US Marines and Belgian paratroopers pour ashore in broad daylight and quickly take control of Kismayu's port and airport.

1994: Mexico lowers the peso's trading floor, triggering a drastic devaluation.

1997: Two days after winning the presidential election in South Korea, President Kim Dae-jung pardons former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, two ex-military dictators who tried to kill him when he was a dissident.

1998: Nkem Chukwu of Houston, Texas, becomes the first woman to give birth to eight live babies.

1999: The Vermont Supreme Court rules that gay couples must be granted the same benefits and protections given married couples of the opposite sex in the first ruling of its kind in the United States.

2001: Argentine President Fernando de la Rua resigns amid riots sparked by the country's collapsing economy.

2003: Political opponents of President Hugo Chavez submit to the National Electoral Council petitions with 3.4 million signatures seeking a referendum to recall Chavez.

2004: A tribunal upholds President Olusegun Obasanjo's victory in Nigeria's first-ever civilian-run vote, held more than a year earlier, saying some balloting fraud had occurred but that the graft wouldn't have changed the results.

2005: The first full session of Afghanistan's new parliament almost breaks down in an uproar after a woman lawmaker demands that all warlords — some of whom are lawmakers — be brought to justice.

2006: Journalist Gao Qinrong, serving a 13-year jail term in China for reporting about a bogus irrigation project, is released five years early, a decision touted as evidence of the country's willingness to empower the media.

2007: Russia signs an agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build a huge natural gas pipeline along the Caspian Sea.

2009: China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, lauds the outcome of a historic UN climate conference that ended with a non-binding agreement that urges major polluters to make deeper emissions cuts — but does not require it.

2010: North Korea backs off threats to retaliate against South Korea for military drills and reportedly offers concessions on its nuclear programme — signs it is looking to lower the temperature on the Korean peninsula after weeks of soaring tensions.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

Leopold von Ranke, German historian (1795-1886); Branch Rickey, US baseball executive (1881-1965); Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, Australian statesman (1894-1978); W Eugene Smith, US photojournalist (1918-1978); George Roy Hill, US film director (1922-2002); Kim Young-sam, former president of South Korea (1927-)

-- AP

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Sad state of emergency

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness is correct when he points to the failure of the Dudus-era state of emergency to ferret out the criminal gangs which are said to be significant contributors to the latest crime wave.

However, he has some explaining to do when he blames the then Opposition PNP for the failure to extend it, as he points to the lack of PNP support for the Bruce Golding Administration in that crucial Gordon House vote.

Did the voters not give the JLP a majority, albeit a thin one, in the 2007 election? Was that not a mandate to govern? Was it not a simple majority vote that was required to extend the state of emergency, a measure supported by a majority of Jamaicans and deemed the number one national issue?

Was it not the failure of the JLP to get all its 32 members to vote for the extension that led to the end of the state of emergency...and the subsequent upsurge in crime?

Just asking.

Errol W A Townshend

Ontario, Canada

ewat@rogers.com

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Consumer, did you know?

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

The right to be informed is one of the basic rights of any consumer. However, to be informed one must be proactive and educate oneself about one's rights and responsibilities as a consumer. Whenever we fail to inform ourselves we risk making decisions that will diminish our resources and in some instances harm our health.

The search for consumer-related information is usually made more difficult by manufacturers as they try to hide certain aspects of data necessary for us, as consumers, to make informed choices.

How many of us, for example, are aware that harmful chemicals are used in household furniture? Many of us have cushions, sofas and upholstery-type furniture in our homes yet we know very little about the make-up of these furniture. Flame retardant foams are usually placed inside many types of upholstery-type furniture and research is now showing that exposure to these retardants is responsible for a wide range of illnesses and disorders; from cancers, birth defects, infertility to hyperactivity. Interestingly, there are many classes of flame retardants and these are, for the most part, unregulated. Polyurethane, which is commonly used in upholstery furniture, is one of most harmful chemicals used, and constant exposure to this chemical can cause serious health issues. It is known for emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two especially vulnerable groups in the society to harmful chemicals are children and nursing mothers.

We need to ask what is the local regulatory agency doing to keep harmful chemicals out of furniture? Does the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) conduct tests on local and foreign-made furniture to determine what chemicals are being used and whether or not these chemicals are harmful to humans? Shouldn't the BSJ ask manufacturers to state what flame retardants are used in their products? Should a ban be placed on any furniture which uses chemicals harmful to humans?

Be a smart shopper this Christmas, conduct your background checks and ask questions, it's your right as a consumer. Ultimately your safety and the safety of your family rest with you.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com

www.wayaine.blogspot.com

Consumer, did you know?

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Our wishy-washy Christian traditions

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Religious traditions may be defined as long-standing sacred beliefs that have stood the test of time. Therefore, they should not be subjected to any form of political correctness.

With regard to this point of view, it is indeed unfortunate and disturbing that our North American society is increasingly characterised by false tolerance under the guise of political correctness.

Foremost among a long list of phoney tolerance is the erosion of symbols that make up the core of our Christian traditions. Thus, there is a concerted action plan to replace "Merry Christmas" with the meaningless term "Happy Holidays". Similarly, there is the calculated move to rename our customary "Christmas tree" with an equally meaningless term "holiday tree."

No other religion in North America, or in any other part of the world, would ever change the religious character of its long-standing traditions. Yet, many North American Christians are going out of their way to demonstrate their so-called tolerance for other religions.

It is to be noted that Muslims cling to their religious traditions, and so it should be. The Jews cling to their religious traditions, and so it should be. The Hindus cling to their religious traditions, and so it should be.

It may be said that so-called Christians have relegated Christianity to the most wishy-washy, wimpy religion in the world.

Rupert Johnson

Toronto, Canada

r.b.johnson@sympatico.ca

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The Voice rules won't change because of Tessanne's win

December 20, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

To those who are predicting that NBC's The Voice will be changing the rules so that someone like Tessanne Chin will not be able to enter the contest next year, I beg to differ.

The presence of Tessanne did nothing but boost the ratings of the show by expanding its appeal, and the rules already exclude most Jamaicans and foreigners, in general, because of the status requirements.

To those who cite the Scripps National Spelling Bee as an example, because the rules were changed after Jody Ann Maxwell won the contest in 1998, there is one major difference. That contest does not have a real product to sell and they do not have the same opportunity to make money off the winner.

Also, of note is that the change in the Scripps Spelling Bee did not exclude Jamaicans, as we have continued to send participants. The change, I believe, had something to do with the timing for qualification competition to enter.

Were one was to look at the Penn Relays, which Jamaican schools have continued to dominate since they first started participating about 1964, there has been no move to limit our participation because we have been good for the meet. Our presence increases the gate receipts. In the same way Tessanne was good for The Voice.

They seemed to be pleased that they could say "Tessanne Chin from Jamaica", and there was even an image of the Jamaican flag in the background of a scene on the Monday night finals show. Tessanne has been a marketing boost for #TheVoice and there are the iTunes sales to prove it. Furthermore, in the age of Twitter and Facebook, the organisers don't have to guess about her impact, as social media has provided further validation of it.

Jamaica has a reputation of being one of the "coolest" places on the planet. We have a history of being creative that the rest of the world knows about, as we gave the world reggae, which may be the only new musical genre of the last century, at least the most popular. We are the country of Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. We are the fastest people on the planet, and they say we have an accent that is the envy of the rest of the English-speaking world.

Tessanne represented herself and her country well with humility, and her warm heart shone through for all to see. As a result she got support from persons all over the world, not just those connected to Jamaica. Her unscripted endorsement of her coach Adam Levine was just further proof of her grace, and her genuine warmth as a human being. Just read the tweets coming from the various personalities both before and after her win. They say a lot about how she has touched them. In Tessanne's win, everyone wins.

Stewart Spencer

stew@cwjamaica.com

The Voice rules won't change because of Tessanne's win

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Portia's legacy

December 21, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then the people will appreciate your leadership."— Nelson Mandela

Some leaders enter public service to change a nation, but in the long term they inspire the world. When we think of such leaders, Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela readily come to mind. Many local leaders use the name of Nelson Mandela to garner public traction, but by their deeds over the years we know they are not sincere. After all, which Jamaican leader is willing to spend 27 years in prison in the name of patriotism and justice?

Jamaica's first female prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller, claims to revere the iconic Nelson Mandela, but she is not willing to follow in his footsteps. Instead of being decisive and vocal in times of adversity, she outsources her responsibility to

her Cabinet members, only appearing at celebratory events for cutting ribbons.

It is also quite surprising that a leader who prefers working over speaking, never misses a chance to bash her critics. For example, she recently noted that her critics are just upset because she does not possess the 'right colour' to lead, but the politically astute know that this was just a strategy to garner public support. Her behaviour is in stark contrast to Mandela's, who did not display contempt for his detractors and accepted criticism like a gentleman.

However, the prime minister should not shoulder the blame for her failure alone, because her Cabinet is equally complacent. Maybe we should not expect better when statesmanship does not exist in Jamaica, and the sole aim of a politician is to win an election.

In St Kitts, Cabinet ministers who were not pleased with the performance of Denzil Douglas resigned, such independence and integrity do not exist here. Even Peter Bunting is supporting the view that the prime minister's critics are racist and classist, is he saying that taxpayers cannot disagree with the prime minister unless they dislike her? They are deflecting from the real issues in order to engage in identity politics and the prime minister is adept at playing the victim card.

When socialist administrations lack substantive policies, they prey on the anger of the downtrodden masses by promoting factionalism, the present Administration knows that the prime minister identifies with the masses, so it is in their best interest to accuse her critics of being bigots in an attempt to score political points. Leadership to the prime minister is about self preservation and not national sacrifice, the fact that she rose from humble beginnings to become prime minister will be her only legacy, unlike Nelson Mandela's legacy of freedom or Thatcher's legacy of economic prosperity for Britain. Portia's legacy will only be about Portia, but luckily for her Raymond Pryce has succeeded in his motion to change the name of the Throne Speech to the People's Speech, so maybe like most good socialists she will leave behind an enduring slogan, too bad it will not enrich Jamaicans.

Lipton Matthews

lo_matthews@yahoo.com

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Spare the child, out with the rod

December 21, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

I think the creation of a parenting curriculum by the National Parenting Support Commission and the establishment of parent places across the island are a welcome development in lives of our nation's children. I am hoping that the powers that be will see the creation of the curriculum as an opportunity to tackle and eradicate certain undesirable, 19th century, harmful Jamaican cultural norms around raising children, like corporal punishment.

I am hoping that the powers that be will closely examine the issue of parents disciplining children and will recommend concrete alternatives to beating them.

I know we live in a culture where even educated people pluck the words "spare the rod and spoil the child" from the Bible for literal application, but we also have all the available modern research that shows that physically abusing children is harmful to both the child and the parent.

Beating children not only physically hurts them, it can damage the psyche of the child, often ruptures and damages the relationship between parent and child and ultimately teaches our children that it is acceptable to use violence to get others to comply with our wishes.

It harms parents because it gives them permission to allow their anger and frustration with the child to boil over into often severe violence against the child rather than seek a rational, tempered, effective means of disciplining a misbehaving child.

I know there will be many Jamaicans who insist that they were beaten by their parents with no ill effects. However, I would suggest to those individuals that there are many more Jamaicans who were deeply physically scarred having been beaten as children, and so as adults have no idea that being physically abused by a supposedly loving caregiver has shaped and/or warped the development their personality and their adult relationships.

Martha Brae

martha.brae@yahoo.com

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Mandela, a leader extraordinaire

December 21, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

There are not many leaders of the world whom I could emulate. But, undoubtedly, Nelson Mandela has made an astounding impact not only on the people of South Africa, but on the world stage.

Nelson Mandela is a revered statesman and anti-apartheid icon. He epitomised the very essence of what a leader should be.

He fervently defended the rights of the downtrodden people of South Africa, more so when he opened the first black law firm to help address the injustices meted out to his people.

Mandela was not daunted by adversities. His resolve was further strengthened after being released from prison.

He proved there is always a way to reconcile differences through consultation rather than confrontation. If only the leaders of the world would embrace his method.

The world needs more leaders like Nelson Mandela, Jamaica in particular. A leader who does not give empty talks about 'balancing books while balancing people's lives', but one that hears the voices of the oppressed and works assiduously to alleviate their suffering, and be even willing to suffer with them.

Madiba is one of the greatest leaders to have walked this earth. His iron resolve was a beacon for the nation of South Africa and for other world leaders to emulate. Few men in the history of mankind have had a greater impact on a nation and inspired the world.

We need more leaders who are not bitter towards their own people; leaders who will not hide from the very people who elected them. Leaders should remain humble while championing the cause of the people and be receptive to their lamentations. And to borrow from the words of the late Peter Tosh "Everybody's

fighting to reach the top; how far is it from the bottom?"

President Mandela has lived

his life in service to others, been a warrior for the freedom of a

nation and its people. An avatar of personal sacrifice.

Let us not forget to pay homage to the Jamaican musicians who contributed to the dismantling of the apartheid movement, most notably Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff.

Nelson Rolihlahla 'Madiba' Mandela, a giant in history. A leader.

Sobrena D Anderson andersonsobrena@yahoo.com

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Real change rests in the Gov't

December 23, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

Tessanne Chin's knee-jerk reaction comment upon receiving a motor vehicle on The Voice that Jamaica has the worst roads cannot detract from her brilliant performance. Neither will it result in the National Works Agency (NWA) re-routing funds to repair our roads, simply because we don't have the funds.

Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, will not be able to ensure that Sherwood Content gets a proper water supply system either. Our athletes and musicians are great and they do what they can, but it is our political representatives that can make major differences in the quality of our lives.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is slowly coming to that conclusion. They are now realising that passing test after test and bills after bills, alone, will not ensure growth in our economy. We can get a view of how difficult the task ahead is when a stable economy like Barbados is forced to send home over 3,000 public sector workers and their dollar value, which has remained stable since independence, is shaky.

But, to be honest, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, who didn't major in economics or has the experience of Dr Omar Davies, has been impressive. We cannot tell if Lisa Hanna may do well as the national security minister, or Bunting better as minister of finance, we are subject to the prime minister's prerogative to fit each person in a ministerial position that best suits the country.

Mark Clarke

Siloah, St Elizabeth

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

Real change rests in the Gov't

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Let Tess be your guide

December 23, 2013, 3:00 am
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Dear Editor,

We are accustomed of hearing comments like "different strokes for different folkes"; "each one to his own taste"; and "each one teach one", but all the tastes and strokes should be in accordance to fair deals and doings, etc.

The charming, humble and intelligent Tessanne Chin, who seems to have a natural talent in singing, has taken a giant step in the music industry in hopes of one day hitting a terrific target. Because of her determination to continue sailing on she has finally landed a great milepost. With a natural revelation of her true self, the beautiful powerhouse of a songstress has now taken centre stage. The writing is already on the wall and Tessanne's Voice win has proven that she has captured the hearts of an international fan base. What a great impact on the global stage for another Jamaican.

It is hoped that those polluting the music industry with foul music will see her success and stop doing so. Singing lovely, clean songs will bring success. The lewd music producers need to throw in the towel. Foul music and degrading songs feed crime and violence, and so I am peacefully asking all deejays and artistes to draw some of the pleasant aromatic vibes from Tessanne and cease from contaminating the country with bad lyrics.

Donald J McKoy

donaldmckoy2010@hotmail.com

Let Tess be your guide

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