Dear Editor,
A few weeks ago when it appeared in the Jamaica Observer that the country was set to build a new prison, it was strenuously denied to have had any substance.
Fast-forward to last week, we had the prime minister of England visit our independent country to inform us of a prison deal Britain has arrived at with our Jamaican Government. The gift of a prison from our former slave masters should be unacceptable to any proud people.
We have built schools, we have built hospitals, we can build our own prison! However, to add insult to injury, PM Cameron had the temerity to stand up in our House of Parliament to tell us -- Paul Bogle's people -- that we need to move on from our history. This is not only an affront to me personally, but an affront to our ancestors as well -- those who not only fought for the freedom we now enjoy, but those who also gave their lives for us, including the millions who died in the Middle Passage, the millions who were thrown overboard because they were thought to be too weak to work as slaves after they were packed like sardines in unimaginable conditions.
Why did Cameron feel comfortable enough to stand in our Parliament to expound on his outrageous views? Would he dare go to the United States to the White House and tell their president the same thing he told us? Would he have gone to Ground Zero in New York City and tell them the same thing? We know that he did not tell the Jews to move on from their history. Why does Cameron believe that the black struggle is any different; why should the Jews not "move on" from their history but the former slaves and descendants of slaves should?
To say that I take umbrage to his view would be an understatement. I only wished that my Government or members of the Opposition had walked out of his presentation, or were brave enough, like Paul Bogle or any of our heroes, to rise in rebuttal of such an outrageous and insulting suggestion.
I believe that the time has come for us to cut the apron springs which bind us to England, and this would include abandoning The Queen as our head of State, but more importantly and urgently, set up our own final court of appeal or join the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Beverley Lynch
Attorney-at-Law
Mandeville, Manchester
bilynch@hotmail.com
Cut the apron springs, we are a proud people
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A few weeks ago when it appeared in the Jamaica Observer that the country was set to build a new prison, it was strenuously denied to have had any substance.
Fast-forward to last week, we had the prime minister of England visit our independent country to inform us of a prison deal Britain has arrived at with our Jamaican Government. The gift of a prison from our former slave masters should be unacceptable to any proud people.
We have built schools, we have built hospitals, we can build our own prison! However, to add insult to injury, PM Cameron had the temerity to stand up in our House of Parliament to tell us -- Paul Bogle's people -- that we need to move on from our history. This is not only an affront to me personally, but an affront to our ancestors as well -- those who not only fought for the freedom we now enjoy, but those who also gave their lives for us, including the millions who died in the Middle Passage, the millions who were thrown overboard because they were thought to be too weak to work as slaves after they were packed like sardines in unimaginable conditions.
Why did Cameron feel comfortable enough to stand in our Parliament to expound on his outrageous views? Would he dare go to the United States to the White House and tell their president the same thing he told us? Would he have gone to Ground Zero in New York City and tell them the same thing? We know that he did not tell the Jews to move on from their history. Why does Cameron believe that the black struggle is any different; why should the Jews not "move on" from their history but the former slaves and descendants of slaves should?
To say that I take umbrage to his view would be an understatement. I only wished that my Government or members of the Opposition had walked out of his presentation, or were brave enough, like Paul Bogle or any of our heroes, to rise in rebuttal of such an outrageous and insulting suggestion.
I believe that the time has come for us to cut the apron springs which bind us to England, and this would include abandoning The Queen as our head of State, but more importantly and urgently, set up our own final court of appeal or join the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Beverley Lynch
Attorney-at-Law
Mandeville, Manchester
bilynch@hotmail.com
Cut the apron springs, we are a proud people
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