Dear Editor,
I am beginning to feel despair daily for the future of our country. There appears to be an absence of leadership and actions are led more by the interests of partisan political groupings than the common good of Jamaica. Are our political leaders also starting to feel despair to the point where they are simply thinking of their own survival and not that of Jamaica?
The Opposition JLP, based on the occasional out-of-slumber utterances of some of its members, are sounding more and more as if they are contemptuous of the rights of Jamaicans. Their conduct certainly does not qualify them to be regarded as Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, keeping the Government on its toes and presenting themselves as a government-in-waiting. Our PNP Government appears to be focused not on governance, but the next election. I am now convinced they are moved only by the demands of outside institutions and foreign governments and interests.
In 2010, 73 Jamaicans were killed by the security forces in Tivoli Gardens and we are yet to convene the promised inquiry. Where are the terms of reference? We hope they will be circulated to members of the public for discussion. The motive must be a dedication to finding out the truth of what really happened. We need to know what led to the killing of so many Jamaicans. If it was an operation that went miserably wrong, how can we prevent a recurrence?
We are advised that crime is not spiralling out of control, but people are sceptical about this assertion, and there is little evidence to support it. We must continue to be concerned that the police's excessive use of force could give some credence to such utterances as 'if gunmen don't get you, the police will'. INDECOM has been crying out to have its staffing improved, but to no avail. So the many pending cases under investigation are almost forgotten by the public, and our police are allowed to continue to do things in the same old way without any regard for the rights of Jamaicans.
It also appears that the JLP, which touted itself as a party that stood for 'human rights and justice', now has at least two prominent members who are opposed to any such position. Mr Warmington's compulsory voting position and Senator Reid's limiting of family size are very disturbing. I still cannot believe that the new and, we were told, promising JLP senator could have advanced a position that seeks to determine just how many children we should be allowed to have. I suppose he would have limits set for each woman based on financial status, etc. What happens if a woman becomes pregnant and exceeds the legal limit by having another child? Do we then have the police arrest her and tear the unborn child from her womb? Or do we wait until she has the child then arrest her, and do what with the child? I suspect many mothers who find themselves in this position will probably have illegal abortions.
In all of this, though, there is a glimmer of light where the leadership is concerned. I am referring to the apology by the minister of education, Ronald Thwaites, on the manner in which he dealt with the disclosure of the 'prison schools' issue. Well done, Minister, and I hope you have also reprimanded those who fed you that piece of rubbish, passed off as a survey.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
Paucity of leadership
-->
I am beginning to feel despair daily for the future of our country. There appears to be an absence of leadership and actions are led more by the interests of partisan political groupings than the common good of Jamaica. Are our political leaders also starting to feel despair to the point where they are simply thinking of their own survival and not that of Jamaica?
The Opposition JLP, based on the occasional out-of-slumber utterances of some of its members, are sounding more and more as if they are contemptuous of the rights of Jamaicans. Their conduct certainly does not qualify them to be regarded as Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, keeping the Government on its toes and presenting themselves as a government-in-waiting. Our PNP Government appears to be focused not on governance, but the next election. I am now convinced they are moved only by the demands of outside institutions and foreign governments and interests.
In 2010, 73 Jamaicans were killed by the security forces in Tivoli Gardens and we are yet to convene the promised inquiry. Where are the terms of reference? We hope they will be circulated to members of the public for discussion. The motive must be a dedication to finding out the truth of what really happened. We need to know what led to the killing of so many Jamaicans. If it was an operation that went miserably wrong, how can we prevent a recurrence?
We are advised that crime is not spiralling out of control, but people are sceptical about this assertion, and there is little evidence to support it. We must continue to be concerned that the police's excessive use of force could give some credence to such utterances as 'if gunmen don't get you, the police will'. INDECOM has been crying out to have its staffing improved, but to no avail. So the many pending cases under investigation are almost forgotten by the public, and our police are allowed to continue to do things in the same old way without any regard for the rights of Jamaicans.
It also appears that the JLP, which touted itself as a party that stood for 'human rights and justice', now has at least two prominent members who are opposed to any such position. Mr Warmington's compulsory voting position and Senator Reid's limiting of family size are very disturbing. I still cannot believe that the new and, we were told, promising JLP senator could have advanced a position that seeks to determine just how many children we should be allowed to have. I suppose he would have limits set for each woman based on financial status, etc. What happens if a woman becomes pregnant and exceeds the legal limit by having another child? Do we then have the police arrest her and tear the unborn child from her womb? Or do we wait until she has the child then arrest her, and do what with the child? I suspect many mothers who find themselves in this position will probably have illegal abortions.
In all of this, though, there is a glimmer of light where the leadership is concerned. I am referring to the apology by the minister of education, Ronald Thwaites, on the manner in which he dealt with the disclosure of the 'prison schools' issue. Well done, Minister, and I hope you have also reprimanded those who fed you that piece of rubbish, passed off as a survey.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
Paucity of leadership
-->