Dear Editor,
Jamaicans here at home and across the globe has earned a mark of respect for our resilience, creativity, and genetic abilities to vocalise our disagreement with any system that dehumanises our brothers and sisters. It is on this socio-cultural pillar that I seek to advance the view that the greatest failure in our country is not the escalation on our national debt, but to see a Jamaicans or any human being in our country rummaging through our garbage as we have not implemented the necessary systems to address their circumstance.
Since Independence our society has been galvanised around the collective conscientiousness that we are, "Out of Many, One People". This iconic axiom, in my opinion, demonstrates an integrated society poised in defence of the advancement of the whole human race; through work, education, training, and more so, good citizenship.
I stand corrected, but fervently uphold the belief that there remains an unparallel relationship in the words we recite in our Jamaican National Pledge and Anthem, and how we politically or otherwise treat those from the lower socio-economic stratum of society. If we really want to examine the dichotomy between what we recite and our actions, look at the disregard meted out to the mentally challenged men and women on our streets who cannot contribute to the production of goods and services, or play a part in the political process.
About a month ago it was reported in the news that a mentally challenged man disarmed a police officer. A few days later we were again apprised of Mario Deane's detriment as a result of being housed in a detention centre among alleged mentally challenged detainees. I can't seem to forget the Jeffery Perry massacre on his relatives in Killancholly, St Mary a few years ago. The list could go on.
We can all conclude, we cannot all be doctors, lawyers, politicians, members of parliament, or opposition, but as a nation and a people working together to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business, this utopic aspiration will not be achieved if we fail to care for the mentally challenge. When we care for the mentally ill, we are improving public safety and security for all.
Ian A Henry
Scott's Hall
ianhenrya@yahoo.com
Caring for the mentally ill improves public safety
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Jamaicans here at home and across the globe has earned a mark of respect for our resilience, creativity, and genetic abilities to vocalise our disagreement with any system that dehumanises our brothers and sisters. It is on this socio-cultural pillar that I seek to advance the view that the greatest failure in our country is not the escalation on our national debt, but to see a Jamaicans or any human being in our country rummaging through our garbage as we have not implemented the necessary systems to address their circumstance.
Since Independence our society has been galvanised around the collective conscientiousness that we are, "Out of Many, One People". This iconic axiom, in my opinion, demonstrates an integrated society poised in defence of the advancement of the whole human race; through work, education, training, and more so, good citizenship.
I stand corrected, but fervently uphold the belief that there remains an unparallel relationship in the words we recite in our Jamaican National Pledge and Anthem, and how we politically or otherwise treat those from the lower socio-economic stratum of society. If we really want to examine the dichotomy between what we recite and our actions, look at the disregard meted out to the mentally challenged men and women on our streets who cannot contribute to the production of goods and services, or play a part in the political process.
About a month ago it was reported in the news that a mentally challenged man disarmed a police officer. A few days later we were again apprised of Mario Deane's detriment as a result of being housed in a detention centre among alleged mentally challenged detainees. I can't seem to forget the Jeffery Perry massacre on his relatives in Killancholly, St Mary a few years ago. The list could go on.
We can all conclude, we cannot all be doctors, lawyers, politicians, members of parliament, or opposition, but as a nation and a people working together to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business, this utopic aspiration will not be achieved if we fail to care for the mentally challenge. When we care for the mentally ill, we are improving public safety and security for all.
Ian A Henry
Scott's Hall
ianhenrya@yahoo.com
Caring for the mentally ill improves public safety
-->