Dear Editor,
The recent death of young Mario Deane as a result of what happened to him at the police station has brought into the open the nature of how most of us locals are perceived and esteemed by our police force.
Although this is a very sad indictment on our system, in general, it is nothing strange or new to those of us who are conscious of the bitter episode of our history here in Jamaica. The nature and modus operandi of our police force today sometimes hark back to the colonial spirit that brought it into existence from the days of Paul Bogle.
The force was brought into play to suppress the black people of Jamaica who started to agitate for true Independence and better treatment. One must remember that our system was fabricated by the ex-slave masters and planters and those of their ancestry who took over from them after slavery. It would be foolish of one to expect them to establish a system that would then put their ex-subjects on par with them after years of oppressing them.
Despite our so-called Independence, the colonial spirit of our judiciary and other forms of governance are still alive and maintained by our leaders and heads of departments today. The idea of viewing black people in Jamaica with contempt is evident in the behaviour of many of our high officials in every aspect of our Jamaican power structure. The bitterest part of this poison, to me, is the participation of my black mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in this white colonial prejudice and sabotage that is being meted out to us. A lot of our black people in Jamaica readily and vigorously administer this poison to their own whilst being totally oblivious to the foundation that they are helping to maintain.
Some of our politicians know of what I speak. Some of them have uttered sentiments to that effect recently in showing sympathy for Mr Deane. However, it is very sad that it took such a savage and wicked situation to squeeze a little mite of conscience and sense of justice out of them.
When will we let go of a colonial system that is set up and operating to our detriment? Is it that we, as a people, cannot see that this system is killing us in every way? When will we have true leadership to help chart a course of true development and upliftment for us as a people, instead of facilitating our dehumanisation, exploitation and suppression by other people from as far as the other end of the world? Why are we not obeying the words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey?
Ras Roger Deacon
rastadeacon@yahoo.com
We need to reset the thing!
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The recent death of young Mario Deane as a result of what happened to him at the police station has brought into the open the nature of how most of us locals are perceived and esteemed by our police force.
Although this is a very sad indictment on our system, in general, it is nothing strange or new to those of us who are conscious of the bitter episode of our history here in Jamaica. The nature and modus operandi of our police force today sometimes hark back to the colonial spirit that brought it into existence from the days of Paul Bogle.
The force was brought into play to suppress the black people of Jamaica who started to agitate for true Independence and better treatment. One must remember that our system was fabricated by the ex-slave masters and planters and those of their ancestry who took over from them after slavery. It would be foolish of one to expect them to establish a system that would then put their ex-subjects on par with them after years of oppressing them.
Despite our so-called Independence, the colonial spirit of our judiciary and other forms of governance are still alive and maintained by our leaders and heads of departments today. The idea of viewing black people in Jamaica with contempt is evident in the behaviour of many of our high officials in every aspect of our Jamaican power structure. The bitterest part of this poison, to me, is the participation of my black mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in this white colonial prejudice and sabotage that is being meted out to us. A lot of our black people in Jamaica readily and vigorously administer this poison to their own whilst being totally oblivious to the foundation that they are helping to maintain.
Some of our politicians know of what I speak. Some of them have uttered sentiments to that effect recently in showing sympathy for Mr Deane. However, it is very sad that it took such a savage and wicked situation to squeeze a little mite of conscience and sense of justice out of them.
When will we let go of a colonial system that is set up and operating to our detriment? Is it that we, as a people, cannot see that this system is killing us in every way? When will we have true leadership to help chart a course of true development and upliftment for us as a people, instead of facilitating our dehumanisation, exploitation and suppression by other people from as far as the other end of the world? Why are we not obeying the words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey?
Ras Roger Deacon
rastadeacon@yahoo.com
We need to reset the thing!
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