Jamaica Observer

Dear Editor,

I am pleased to hear that Minister Thwaites has come out strongly against the habit of screening students for entry into publicly funded schools. I only hope that he has the backbone of an Edwin Allen to take on the real perpetrators of the backward practice at traditional high schools, where this had been the modus operandi.

For too long we have allowed some schools and teachers to be insulated from the real problems in the system. The Grade Six Achievement Test already screens, yet at the sixth form level some of them will require that applicants get distinctions in the subjects they wish to pursue even when the students attended the same school.

We need to rationalise how students are admitted into our schools at all levels. All our schools can produce world-class academics and athletes. There is no need to move them all over the place. We cannot afford to pay teachers who only want to teach bright students and coach talented athletes.

Sports must have some educational value for every student if it is to be funded by the State. The talented ones will get funding from private sector companies. We need to send the message that students with proper parental or other support who attend classes regularly and spend time afterwards having the lessons reinforced by applying what they learn in practice are successful.

Teachers who only want to teach brilliant students are being lazy. When a child lives within walking distance of a school, and is refused admission to the school after getting over 60 per cent in GSAT in both math and English, we should conclude that it is the school, not the child, who is deficient.

R Howard Thompson

howardthompson507@yahoo.com

You set the standard, Minister Thwaites

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Dear Editor,

While I join with fellow Jamaicans in the relief we all surely feel now that Veronica Campbell Brown has been cleared of the doping allegation, I am extremely angry that she was ever put through the pain and suffering of the past year.

Jamaicans have long been well known for standing up to injustice, but I often wonder why we are so silent, docile and accepting of the diktats of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the demagogues like former head honcho Dick Pound of Canada.

Consider this if you ran any kind of business or organisation, from higglering to a multinational corporation, and you had to make 2,269 amendments to your operating code — as WADA has just had to do — what would that say about your firm?

The bottom line is: WADA is giving track and field a bad name and jeopardising the careers and reputations of athletes by including on its long list of banned substances items that do not and cannot be scientifically proven to enhance anyone's performance. Athletes need to band together, in a union if necessary, as those in other sports have done to bring pressure to bear on those who run the sport to cull this list.

The sport's governing body in Jamaica (JAAA) also needs to speak up loud and clear on this issue. It needs to stop drinking the kool aid.

Errol W A Townshend

Ontario, Canada

Time to turn heat on WADA

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Dear Editor,

The Jamaican Government has to ensure that the plan to decriminalise ganja is one that is well thought out and not just a frenzy they have found themself in because other countries beat them to the "herb". It has to be intricately planned so as not to position the island to be a "junkie" town. This is especially serious when one considers that, over the years, Jamaica's war against drugs has failed miserably, even the much-talked-about no smoking in public law. One must admit that there are vast benefits that can be derived from the decriminalisation of the weed, but it must be done strategically.

Firstly, it is essential that there be a campaign educating weed smokers that decriminalisation is not the same as legalisation. This is of paramount importance. I am going out on a limb and putting faith in the Jamaican Government that this move to decriminalise is not aimed at creating a free market for marijuana, but instead aims to control the cultivation, consumption and sale of cannabis. Therefore, the big wigs in Gordon House must look at best practices.

Take a look at Uruguay's model of the legalisation of marijuana and learn a lesson or two. If the Government is serious about being the victor in this war on drugs then they must be willing to spend money in order to reap the benefits. There will obviously need to be an independent body put in place to govern, monitor and regulate the herb. There will have to be a central database with the records of the registered cultivators of the plant, the common smoker, and the established location where marijuana will be sold. Of course, in all cases there will have to be a limit -- both an age limit and a quantity limit. The database will be crucial to ensuring that there is an avenue through which to track if and when those established limits and conditions are breached so that necessary penalties can follow.

But first the million-dollar question that needs to be answered is which part of the process will be decriminalised? Is it the cultivation, the consumption, the sale, or all of the above?

Proper decriminalisation of ganja will be a gift to Jamaica if regulated successfully.

Many anti-marijuana folks will say that decriminalising the plant will encourage non-smokers to jump on the bandwagon and they may even say that the Government is not thinking about the health and welfare of citizens. But it is understood that whenever something new is introduced people will get into a frenzy, but very soon after this frenzy will subside and it will be back to business as usual as normalcy will be regained.

Decriminalisation of ganja is a bold move by the Government that will undoubtedly have vast benefits to the nation that transcends economic, cultural and medicinal boundaries. If done strategically, it will be successful and will be worthwhile to our island. However, the Government must be keen on the motive of decriminalising the plant because "puss and dawg nuh have the same luck!"

Janiel Lambert

Journalism student

Northern Caribbean University

jlambert10@stu.ncu.edu.jm

No 'dibbi dibbi' weed legislation

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Dear Editor,

Jamaican politicians seem not to look beneath the surface, but instead look for easy and sometimes troubling band-aid solutions.

Senator Ruel Reid's recent utterings ruffled some feathers, and though my partisan mind would like to find some argument in support of his assertions, I was simply unable to come up with such argument.

Instead, it inspired me to take a closer look at the Governments social safety net, Programme for Advancement Through Health and education (PATH).

A veritable conditional cash transfer programme, PATH could be organised more efficiently to allow the Government to get more bang for its buck.

One dimension of the programme is to help reduce intergenerational poverty through education. As such, the programme aims to increase school attendance by giving financially weak parents some additional funds to help them out in this regard.

Though well-intentioned, it seems to be an exact replica of Brazil's Bolsa Familia. I have to conclude that it seems adequate research was not conducted in Jamaica as it relates to the tailoring of such a programme to the Jamaican context.

For one, it presupposes that a child's attendance to school, or rather a lack thereof, is the main barrier for poor children reaping the benefits of education, ie moving up the socio-economic ladder. Let's for this purpose say that this were to be the case. Then, the programme lacks coordination between related ministries and other stakeholders in the process for early childhood education to attaining employability. Issues to be handled include placement of student in schools closest to their homes to avoid exorbitant transportation fees; fixing the quality of education dispensed; having the various ministries collaborating in the effort; etc.

Separate and apart from the fact that many think the benefit is not meaningful, if the PATH and the support organisations are properly reorganised, parents could allocate more money to providing healthy lunches, extra lessons, or other amenities vital to the success of children and thus the success of the programme.

Denieca Brown

denieca.brown@mail.utoronto.ca

PATH needs a clearer pathway

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Over the years we have blamed our teachers for the poor performance of our students. Certainly, there are teachers who have not given their best in the classroom and have blighted the future of a number of students. However, we must also realise that students should shoulder some of the responsibility for their failure and underperformance.

Many teachers plan some of the best lessons, dialogue with parents to stem a plethora of behavioural and academic problems, and provide countless incentives to encourage a spirit

of excellence. Nevertheless, many students remain cavalier.

It is therefore high time that we seriously communicate to our students that they have a personal responsibility for their learning. Students must now realise that if they do not put in the work, no amount of excitement, creativity or optimism that the teacher brings to the classroom will help them to achieve. They must make a conscious decision to do well, in spite of their challenges.

Undoubtedly, it is difficult to procure employment, even with tertiary certification. However, we must let our children know that it is even increasingly challenging to obtain and maintain gainful employment without a quality educational background.

Our children must be guided to recognise Jamaica's current quagmire and to see themselves as paramount stakeholders in our escape. They need to start playing their part by giving of their best in the classroom, respecting their teachers and their peers and obeying the rules of their schools, and the laws of society by extension. By this we can help to build a better Jamaica.

Learning is a triangular process. It involves the parents and the teachers, and most of all, it involves the students. Students, play your part.

Shawna Kay Williams

shawna201@gmail.com

Students must play their role

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Dear Editor,

There has been a firestorm recently because of statements made by Senator Ruel Reid about placing limits on how many children Jamaican women should be allowed to have. Although I somewhat agree with the senator, I do not think his suggestion will provide the long-term solution we desire.

One of the things I learned in management was how to approach problem-solving, and that formula can be applied to any problem.

One of the things I learned in management was how to approach problem-solving, and that formula can be applied to any problem.

Let us take our problem in Jamaica of teenage pregnancy. First, identify the root causes, which should not be confused with surface causes. Then identify the possible solutions. Having done so, evaluate and implement the best solutions.

Cause #1 is a lack of education: The solution to this is to ensure that all school-age children attend school, provide enough school spaces and teachers, and introduce age-appropriate sex education from early.

Cause #2 is a lack of parental guidance: The solution include adding parenting to the curriculum. Make it mandatory for parents to attend parent-teachers' meetings and hold parents responsible and accountable for their children.

Cause # 4 speaks to a lack of discipline and respect for others and the environment: The solution for this is to start the teaching of civics, respect for others, and instilling good values from an early age.

Cause #5 is a lack of enforcement: The best policies, laws and procedures will not bear the desired results if there is no enforcement and consequences. That is why there must be public education at the roll-out of any policy. There must be zero tolerance to rape, statutory rape, and failure of child protection agencies.

All the above causes have their root in education, we can therefore conclude that teenagers are getting pregnant because of a lack of education. Armed with that knowledge we can direct our resources to education. When our children are educated they will be prepared to make the correct choices based upon their high self-worth, high moral standards, and their ability to find gainful employment without resorting to being someone's baby mother. If we can break the cycle of teenage pregnancy we can break the cycle of too many children being born into poverty.

Enos Anderson

Dawkins District

andersones28@yahoo.com

Before we go to a two-child policy...

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Dear Editor,

The HEART Trust/NTA is on the right path with the re-branding of its academies as vocational colleges. Its Runaway Bay Academy for Hospitality Skills is the most recently re-branded facility. The next logical step is to consolidate the colleges into the 'Vocational University of Jamaica'. This should be done with a vision of this institution becoming the premier national provider of workforce-ready graduates sufficient for local demand and export, heralding Jamaica's formal embrace of knowledge as a major economic industry. This fits well into the national priority to make Jamaica the fourth node of the global logistics network. Therefore, it is a very timely development to be pursued with the same vigour.

The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) has succeeded in its vigorous efforts to become the leading workforce development partner for the logistics-driven economy. However, this may be attributed to the complacency or visionary conservatism of the HEART Trust/NTA, which has the most congruous mandate and adequate resources to qualify as the leader. The CMI needs to see the wisdom of being joined to the HEART Trust/NTA as the premier college of its Vocational University of Jamaica. It is already inappropriately placed under the remit of the Ministry of Transport for no better reason than its complementary relationship with the maritime transport industry. This is an educational institution that should have come under the ambit of those tasked with public sector reform, for re-assignment to the education ministry under the HEART Trust/NTA. The simple reason is that it is a workforce academy.

It is hoped that good sense will prevail over politics, personal ambition and bureaucracy in the national interest by the adoption of my recommendations.

H W Dennis

peeceepress@yahoo.coma

Make HEART Trust the Vocational University of Jamaica

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Dear Editor,

Last week I did myself what turned out to be a huge favour by attending MegaMart's wonderfully entertaining media bash in the classy setting of the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel. Gassan Azan and his team absolutely outdid themselves.

But on an evening that was worth every second I spent there, I must single out the incomparable Beenie Man whose performance and effusive personality reminded me how awesomely talented our Jamaican people are.

Our country is richly endowed with such outstanding talent from one end to the next, whether it's a Usain Bolt or a Tessanne Chin, or, in this case, a Beenie Man or Fab Five.

I hadn't seen Beenie Man for a long while, and watching him totally dominate the room and the MegaMart stage for 50 minutes, with a smile the size of Jamaica, reminded me of the fact that he is the thoroughbred of nice guys. He walked into the room and immediately it lit up as he embraced everyone and chatted with great ease and comfort.

Everyone at the bash was talking about him and I want to say congratulations to this entertainer par excellence. My job is to say thank you to the people who keep doing great and wonderful things for Jamaica.

Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, OJ

Chairman, ATL Sandals Group

35 Half-Way-Tree Road

Kingston 5

Dear Editor,

President Obama has made scores of speeches since becoming the first African-American president, he rarely mentions the poor. Obama is from a country where people are poor today and rich tomorrow.

Jan Koum, one of the founders of WhatsApp, emerged from a family that relied on food stamps.

The majority of people strive to be part of the middle class by getting a university education. In foward-thinking societies political leaders don't fashion messages dwelling on the poor, it just doesn't fly.

Here in Jamaica our leaders have uniquely designed, fashioned and patented a message based on poverty and the poor. Most of us have swallowed it hook, line and sinker. They cater to our every need, skilfully feeding us and making us dependent on them. If we scratch their back, no matter how broad theirs are, they'll scratch ours.

But this sales pitch has kept us impoverished and facilitated the massive waste of taxpayers money while our leaders, across party lines, and their friends have done spectacularly well.

While the leaders make poor decisions about how they spend from the national purse the public sector workers have to hug up a wage freeze, teachers must hold strain, and the finance minister tells us that the cupboard is bare.

If our Government wants to waste taxpayers dollars at least quickly follow Colorado which will raise taxes revenue this year from medical and recreational marijuana from some US$571m profit. They are already planning to spend most of it on educating their people. What is our plan?

Mark Clarke

Siloah, St Elizabeth

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

Stop the poverty message

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Dear Editor,

Many persons are in an uproar and shouting, "Nuh mek we feel suh" as it seems the authorities in Dominica have found the loophole in the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The CCJ had said Caricom members should be allowed entry and the Dominicans have been keen to ensure that entry was allowed.

However, what the CCJ did not say is what should happen after entry, and as such Jamaica's Tommy Lee Sparta was subsequently "shook down" after he was processed by immigration. Perhaps he didn't get his papers right. Who knows?

So where do we go from here?

Dominica has implied that he poses a threat to public safety. And if someone poses a threat to public safety it certainly would be unwise to allow free access to the country. But we are curious, not because we love or hate Tommy Lee and his music, but because the decision seems arbitrary and could serve to set precedence.

So we want to know if Dominicans need permission to stage a show. If so, who granted permission? I would think a Government official did,

and it makes us wonder if they are unaware of who would perform at the time of granting the permission.

While the church in Dominica may be saying "No, No, No, No" to his visit, I don't think that would have been a guiding factor as they are probably quite recalcitrant when it comes to most dancehall artistes.

The Dominicans should share what they consider to be a threat to public safety and certainly what information they received and from whom. It could save everyone a lot of time and money as Tommy Lee says he will "defend" his rights as a Caricom citizen.

I agree with him wholeheartedly.

They have further said they detained him to complete their investigation into the claims of public safety. These seem to have been quite easily confirmed or dispelled, making us wonder if they really needed that additional time. Interestingly, the findings of the investigation haven't been shared. So, finally, here's the million-dollar question: If instead of Tommy Lee, the dancehall artiste, Leroy 'Junior' Russell, citizen of Jamaica, had arrived to spend vacation would he also be deported on the basis of being a threat to public safety?

Robert Howell

Liguanea

roberthowelljm@yahoo.com

The threat to public safety

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Dear Editor,

One of the goals of true education is character-building. As our educational institutions seek to promote excellence in academics and place emphasis on science and technology, it is important that they positively build the character of our youth.

Through character-building, our education system should sensitise the youth to the reality and danger of corruption. Corruption pervades the nations of the world. It is not a phenomenon that is peculiar to politicians and the police as some people may think, but one which exists even in schools, churches, social groups, hospitals and other institutions.

Students need to know that when they cheat in examinations, copy someone else's SBA and present it to a teacher, extort money from others, hide from classes they are playing with corruption.

The effort of the National Integrity Action, Transparency International, and the media to rid our society and world of corruption is quite commendable. I make bold to say that the time has come for the Ministry of Education to infuse in school curriculum courses that sensitise students to measures that can prevent corruption in our nation.

Since the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, let us teach them to eschew and jettison corruption in all its forms and from our national psyche.

Pastor Ugochukwu Durueke

udurueke@yahoo.com

Build character in our youth

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Dear Editor,

The recent death of a Jamaican student athlete in Trinidad and Tobago is both untimely and tragic. My condolence to the family of Cavahn McKenzie and the St Jago High School community.

On the other hand, we should not allow Cavahn's death to be vain, and as such we must revisit how our student athletes are treated. The time has come for us to put in measures to protect them.

Firstly, is there a medical insurance scheme for our student athletes to assist them to cover medical costs whenever they get injured? If there is none, why not?

Additionally, we need to ask whether there is a group life insurance scheme for our student athletes to assist their families in the event of death. If this is not yet in place, surely now is as good a time as any for such a scheme to be implemented.

Oftentimes we tend to forget that death can come at any time in one's life. The sacrifices and glory to school and nation by our student athletes should not go unrecognised. The least we can do as a society is to reciprocate, in any way possible, given these athletes' level of commitment over the years.

We also need to ask ourselves what system is in place to test the level of fitness for our athletes before we allow them to compete whether locally, regionally or on the international stage? Do we administer stress tests to our student athletes before competition? Are they required to do a physical/medical examination before we deem them suitable for competition?

With the annual Boys' and Girls' Championships on the horizon, we should ask ourselves have we done all that we can to protect our athletes from all these eventualities?

What about the nutrition of our athletes? Are our student athletes eating a balanced diet? I make reference not only to students who compete in track and field, but also to other sports such as football, rugby, and netball.

Last, but by no means least, we must ensure that our student athletes are knowledgeable about banned supplements/substances as outlined by the World Anti-Doping Agency and our local authorities.

The time has come for the Government of Jamaica to create a student athletes policy to guide the welfare of our current and future track stars. Let us not wait until another tragedy comes our way before we act on this matter. Jamaica's continued success in track and field is dependent upon the decisions our policymakers must take. We owe it to our athletes, and indeed to the country, to ensure we put all measures in place to preserve our rich history in athletics.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com

www.wayaine.blogspot.com

Let this tragedy guide our steps

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Dear Editor,

One of the most talked-about topics for Black History Month is this business of reparations. As is widely known, we black people in the West, and especially in the West Indies, are demanding compensation for slavery from several European powers, including Britain, France and the Netherlands. What is not understood by many is that the basis of this reparations claim is not only fantastically weak, it is virtually certain that no payments will ever be made.

It is being claimed by some that as the European planters were compensated for the loss of their slaves, the slaves should also have been compensated. Of course, this is a dead argument as the slaves were considered property and not people and, as such, no compensation would have been due to them. Then there is the moral argument — slavery was such an "evil" that its "victims" deserve compensation. Again, another non-starter, just because we today see slavery as evil doesn't mean the average person then saw it as such.

There are several other arguments used in support of reparations. None of which, as far as I can see, really give strength to the pro-reparations camp. If this reparations issue should ever go to any kind of international court, there is very little doubt in my mind that it will be thrown out — perhaps along with the pro-reparations lawyers.

However, let's say for the sake of argument that an international court is prepared to listen to this case. Even if the pro-reparations advocates manage to work the miracle and put forward good arguments, which court will ever rule in their favour?

One would assume the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would be the ideal place to argue for reparations. If not, perhaps the United Nations. However, if these are the places reparations advocates intend to argue their case, then they can forget it.

The ICJ is based in The Netherlands, one of the countries we want to pay. Both the ICJ and the United Nations are what I call "victors' courts". I can't see how any of them will ever rule against Britain, France or The Netherlands. This is especially true of the United Nations, as both Britain and France have the power of veto.

But again, let's say the impossible happens and any or both of these bodies should rule against Britain, France and The Netherlands, will reparations then be paid? Most unlikely! While these bodies can rule on anything, their power to enforce is a different matter.

Israel, North Korea and others have perfected the art of ignoring rulings from the United Nations and other international bodies. If these weaker powers can do so, what do advocates for reparations think greater powers like Britain and France will do?

Then again, even if they would want to pay, it seems certain that they won't, as their weakened economies will be in no position to pay out the hundreds of billions of dollars in reparations advocates seek. These powers simply could not afford to pay, even if they wanted to — which they don't.

Those of us who continue to dream about getting reparations can keep dreaming. The European taxpayer need not worry, he will never be called upon to pay anything.

Michael A Dingwall

michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com

Too many hurdles for reparations

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Dear Editor,

The Observer is a favourite newspaper of mine, so when I am not pleased I will say it.

A few days ago the Observer carried an article, 'Jamaicans in US support ganja decriminalisation but urge caution' that I found very disturbing.

The Jamaican Government is in discussion on whether to legalise ganja for medical purposes, and maybe a small amount for recreational use. People will have differing views, but the slavery mentality and thinking behind the utterances reported is very frightening.

I would not let Joan Pinnock and Irwin Clare teach me geography, not even basic geography. Joan Pinnock, who is an attorney, said this: "We need to be reminded that while some states have legalised the use of marijuana to some degree, the Federal law against its use remains in place." Any non-Jamaican reading this quote would think Jamaica is the 53rd state of the USA. Joan Pinnock said Federal law against its use remains in place. Why is this person talking about Federal law even though we are not talking about America? If Federal law could not stop Colorado, a state that belongs to USA, how is it possible that Federal law can stop an independent country doing what it wants to do?

Then here comes Irwin Clare, more clueless of what is good for Jamaica. He suggested "that the Jamaican Government be wary that US Federal laws do not recognise the use of ganja". Now you understand why that these two could not teach me geography. Is Jamaica a part of the United States of America? Does Federal law also concern Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, or even England? Why should American Federal law concern only Jamaica and no other country? This is the part that is baffling me. Name one Federal law that can stop Jamaica legalising ganja within its borders?

Joan Pinnock says she is an attorney. My daughter is a lawyer working, living and studying in Helsinki, Finland, and if she ever utters such nonsense, for example, Finnish law is against the use of ganja, so Belgium and Holland better be careful how they go about legalising ganja, I would disown her.

Clare and Pinnock failed to understand the truth or they were afraid to say, "Jamaica beg too much to be going down this road, and the USA might not like what it is doing". Instead, they brought in another country's laws to rule in Jamaica. Didn't Pinnock and Clare learn in school that Jamaica is not a part of the USA?

Hero Scott

herocarlito@yahoo.com

When does US Federal law run Ja?

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Dear Editor,

I take issue with the Observer sports headline, 'Jamaica's bobsledders flop'. What is lacking too often in our competitive drive to excel in sports is the lack of support, especially when we don't come out on top.

The bobsledders did not flop. Sport is not only about winning, it is about getting to the stage where you are able to compete. It is about determination, hard work, inspiration, and striving to get better.

The two-man team not only managed to qualify to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but they also got to compete with the world's best in a sport that's non-traditional by any means in Jamaica, given our tropical climate. They might've ended last in the events, but came out on top in spirit, showmanship, drive, and determination. They were also well liked amongst the athletes in the village, according to reports and the many 'selfies' with other athletes which showed up on social media. They were also well supported from the crowd response and the international media interest; one news outlet even commented, that the Jamaican support each time they competed could only be matched by that of the eventual gold medal winners, Russia. Any online search on the two-man teams' results will invariably pull up some news headline about Team Jamaica. So why would we say they flopped?

Although they finished last, after Heat 3, they were really just a couple seconds slower than most of the other countries competing, and only 6.5 seconds behind the leader at that point, the eventual gold medal winners. They fared well considering the odds; they also didn't crash.

Perhaps as they strive to improve in the future, they will recruit, train and use younger, leaner athletes who might help to improve on speed, especially the push start and for the overall weight of the sled. Most of the other athletes seemed leaner. I was also concerned about the watermelon design on the helmet which has already become a topic for jokes in some quarters online, even TMZ. If you want to be taken seriously, you have to also act and look serious.

When all was said and done, the Jamaican bobsledders did amazingly well, and represented the country well. Let's not forget it was only a few weeks ago they didn't have the funds to get to Sochi and had to go on an urgent media blitz to raise funds online. The team should be therefore congratulated, along with corporate sponsors such as Puma.

It would be great to see them compete again in the next Winter Olympics, striving for a higher placement, and someday becoming even a medal contender. It is not impossible, considering they got this far.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com

J'can bobsledders didn't 'flop'

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Dear Editor,

There have been numerous discussions relating to the prime minister's overseas trips since assuming office.

According to some members of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, the prime minister has been making a plethora of overseas trips without much benefit to the country and citizens. The fact of the matter is that every single head of Government throughout the world has to travel overseas frequently for many reasons and I cannot understand why persons would criticise her for doing her job.

She has to attend many overseas seminars, conferences and bi-lateral functions which come within the framework of being prime minister, I cannot come to the conclusion that she has been abusing the privilege of travelling overseas.

I am confident, based on the prime minister's integrity, character and probity that she would never abuse the privilege and discretion that she has as it relates to travelling overseas on government business.

It is not every single overseas trip which the PM makes that achievements and accomplishments can be immediately and specifically pointed to.

Further, people need to be cognisant that whenever the PM travels overseas extensive advance preparations have to be made both here in Jamaica and in the host country. It is not just on a whim she gets on a plane. It's all business.

That said, the PM should take the necessary steps to curtail the overseas trips of her Cabinet ministers and ensure that their trips are not abused in any way, shape or form. It has been reported that some ministers regularly travel overseas with very large delegations which is costly. The PM should proceed to take the required action to stop any possible waste of taxpayers' money.

Robert Dalley

Montego Bay

robertdalley1@hotmail.com

Prime ministers

are suppose to fly

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Dear Editor,

These are the comments attributed to Justice Velma Hylton as she participated in the 2001 public inquiry into a similar confrontation between civilians and the security forces in West Kingston which resulted in the deaths of 25 civilians: "If the police and the rest of the security forces had not taken action to repel force with force that day, I say again, at this point in time, we may still have been shovelling up pieces of bodies in West Kingston... In my respectful submission, if the women and children deliberately put themselves between the law and order forces...to enable those gunmen behind them to fire at the security forces and to fire at civilians, I for one do not understand why, in all circumstances, they cannot return the fire...."

In my opinion, these comments are unfortunate for one tasked with making an impartial return on the deliberations at the time. These comments reflect a callous view on not only the lives of those lost, but on one of the basic human rights rules that govern the conduct of members of the security forces anywhere in the free world in their engagements with citizens.

Basic human rights principles place the security forces at a plain way above the criminals they have to face and requires that they not be judge, jury and executioners at the same time.

Views such as quoted should automatically disqualify Justice Hylton from participation in the upcoming Tivoli inquiry and make one question the Government's position with respect to her appointment, as her very presence taints any findings that may be made even before a single witness is called.

Madam Prime Minister, please correct this in the interest of justice for all Jamaicans.

Richard Blackford

richardhblackford@gmail.com

What's in a statement?

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Dear Editor,

I wish to congratulate and humbly offer my advice to the Government of Jamaica in their recent bold step towards decriminalising ganja in an effort to stimulate long-awaited economic growth.

As a scientific researcher in the field of bio-organic and natural product chemistry, I am easily captivated by plants or fungi that produce intriguing biologically active compounds. Cannabis sativa stands tall in the kingdom of plantae. It can be considered as "green gold" regards to the myriad potent natural products that have been isolated, characterised and published in numerous scientific high impact journals.

From medicinal research and intoxicating financial statistics there is no doubt whether ganja can be a catalyst for economic growth. Although the economic aroma is pleasing, we must be cognisant of the negative implications of the plant, namely drug abuse and organised criminal activities as a result of the illegal trafficking of ganja.

However, like the common salt in water, so can these negatives be dissolved and made to reappear when the solvent is removed. The solvent here would be robust regulations. However to ensure the negatives do not reappear, we should ensure strong regulations are maintained. Only licensed stakeholders should be able to cultivate, trade, process, and carry out research on the herb. Ganja farms should be on designated lands permitted and monitored by the State. Medicinal ganja should be grown separately from ganja for other uses. These guidelines are to eradicate the illegal industry and to ensure that the country benefits.

We want to avoid the typical "eat a food "or "hustling" mentality that some Jamaicans tend to display. Therefore, the Government needs to communicate this sentiment to the country as a part of the discussions regarding decriminalisation. Poor governance, political tribalism, greed, "hustling", and "eat a food" mentality have done nothing but plunge the country into economic despair and fuel the criminal underworld. As a country we continue to reap spoiled fruits from the bad seeds that were sown.

However, all is not lost, as we are once more at another cross road. We can foolishly, by default, choose the path of despair or use our brains to truly reap "economically enriched fruits". I agree that implementing "ganjanomics" with robust regulations can heal our economic wounds, but let us do so with the triple helix type economic model in mind. That is that the Government, industries and the universities should work as one to yield success. So to avoid another broken down "JEEP", before we start the ignition, let us check the engine and transmission oils, fuel, tyres and rear-view mirrors. There is a common metaphor that states that "two heads are better than one". The triple helix module has three heads, but it will not hurt to have a fourth, which is the voice of the people.

Garfield Williams

garfieldwilliams_jr@yahoo.com

Don't let all the ganja go up in smoke

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Dear Editor,

I am led to believe that the Portia Simpson Miller-led Administration is "talking blues" with regard to the true cost of energy in another two years.

On one hand is the seemingly hard-working Minister Philip Paulwell, the Office of Utilities Regulation and Jamaica Public Service with Energy World suggesting an estimated cost of US$0.13 per kilowatt hour. However, the confused mutterings of the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Dr Omar Davies in Parliament sings a different tune.

After claiming that the Goat Islands project would need at least five years to be a reality, and in trying to rationalise the use of the pollutant coal by the Chinese to generate energy, he tells the nation that "they have indicated that there is no new manufacturing activity that they could attract to Jamaica at a (energy) cost of US$0.40 per kilowatt hour. And that is a fact" (Sunday Observer, March 2, 2014).

Why would the Chinese on the Goat Islands or the people of Jamaica be paying US$0.40 per kilowatt hour for energy in the next two years if the Energy World project is feasible?

In which world does the two government ministers live?

Apparently the minister of transport, along with his advisers, has no clue what the proposed government energy policy is in regards to the cost of energy in the next two years. Or is it that someone has misled and minsinformed the people of Jamaica?

What are the facts?

Dudley C McLean II

Mandeville, Manchester

dm15094@gmail.com

What is the real cost of energy?

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Dear Editor,

We are living in economic times where we seem unaware of who owns what and whom. It is very sad for us to be living such a reality. A country's citizens have the right to know who really governs them, who makes the laws, and what is good for our people.

Jamaica is not apart of the USA, but because of our debts to that country and our need for their aid, they seemingly own our country and the people within — hard thing to say.

Notice, though, it seems our country depends on America to authorise our production on ganja. Therefore, the American Federal laws are implied in our country's regime.

Are we going to completely sell out our culture as well? We have started trading our culture for newer ones, for example: Halloween, what do we know about it?

Now, since we have to borrow money, take grants and sell our properties and natural resources, we need to be concerned for the consequences that the citizens will face in the long run. As a result, we are subjected to being 'slaved', we are being dictated to on how to live our lives as an independent nation, and we are being implicitly ruled by private entities.

As an independent nation we should utilise our resources as best as it serve us and aim to be self-sufficient. When will our Government realize that taking other people's money is like bait to fish? We've beyond hooked and can be tugged at will. We are taking the bait not knowing that we are being trapped by rules and regulations of other countries.

It is time for us to play out the real meaning of being an independent nation.

Lattesha Harvey

St Catherine

lattesha.harvey@yahoo.com

Hook, line and sinker

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