Dear Editor,
Fear is an overpowering emotion, and right now the majority of Jamaicans are scared. But are we so afraid as to have the Government “infringe our freedoms, abrogate our rights or abridge our privileges”.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, during the election campaign, promised essentially that if we elected his Administration we would be safe in our homes. He didn’t state at what price. Now, Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte is telling us how much.
History has shown that when people give up their rights it is almost impossible to get them restored. Remember the 1970s, under The Suppression of Crime Act, when we were just as fearful and the Michael Manley Government exploited that fear and turned the police force into something resembling Hitler’s Gestapo. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
Firstly, not one of these parliamentarians, and especially ministers of government, will suffer any inconvenience. Whenever they encounter roadblocks or cordon and searches they are part of the elite, they are never suspects, they simply flash a smile, or their bodyguards ensure that they suffer no indignities.
We need the right to life. For other rights we have become null and void unless we can survive. We need solemn guarantees that when you infringe, abrogate and abridge, we will not be shot while playing dominoes, our children will not be shot while going to school, and we can sleep with our doors open. If our laptop computers are stolen you show the same determination to get it back and imprison the thief, as was done for then Security Minister Peter Bunting. Treat us with the same dignity and fairness that you, your children and your relatives enjoy.
Mark Clarke
Siloah PO, St Elizabeth
mark_clarke9@yahoo.com
Fear is an overpowering emotion, and right now the majority of Jamaicans are scared. But are we so afraid as to have the Government “infringe our freedoms, abrogate our rights or abridge our privileges”.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, during the election campaign, promised essentially that if we elected his Administration we would be safe in our homes. He didn’t state at what price. Now, Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte is telling us how much.
History has shown that when people give up their rights it is almost impossible to get them restored. Remember the 1970s, under The Suppression of Crime Act, when we were just as fearful and the Michael Manley Government exploited that fear and turned the police force into something resembling Hitler’s Gestapo. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
Firstly, not one of these parliamentarians, and especially ministers of government, will suffer any inconvenience. Whenever they encounter roadblocks or cordon and searches they are part of the elite, they are never suspects, they simply flash a smile, or their bodyguards ensure that they suffer no indignities.
We need the right to life. For other rights we have become null and void unless we can survive. We need solemn guarantees that when you infringe, abrogate and abridge, we will not be shot while playing dominoes, our children will not be shot while going to school, and we can sleep with our doors open. If our laptop computers are stolen you show the same determination to get it back and imprison the thief, as was done for then Security Minister Peter Bunting. Treat us with the same dignity and fairness that you, your children and your relatives enjoy.
Mark Clarke
Siloah PO, St Elizabeth
mark_clarke9@yahoo.com