Dear Editor,
I notice that absolutely nothing has been said by our human rights groups about this issue of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) withholding information from the Jamaican public about which toilet tissues are unsafe for use.
The BSJ has published a list of supposedly safe brands, but has all but refused to apprise us of the unsanitary brands.
It therefore means that Jamaicans are still relatively in the dark on this matter, and are at serious risk, particularly women and young girls.
The irony of this whole situation is that, once again, it is poor people who will suffer the most, as the top-of-the-line, expensive brands, which only the wealthy or middle class can afford, are on the approved list.
Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton had the audacity to tell the press that he has nothing to say on the matter and holds whatever position the BSJ does. How callous! In the meantime, thousands of Jamaican women continue to be at risk, using toilet tissue already bought, or still being bought, which possibly contain bacteria which can harm them over the long term.
Remember, poor women don't readily go to the gynaecologist, so some women will be carrying infections for extended periods before it is caught, by which time serious harm may have already been done.
I implore all Jamaicans to speak up. Human rights groups, speak out. This is as good a cause as speaking up for the victims of police brutality. This is a matter of public safety.
Khaillah Carneigie
St Andrew
Don't flush the tissue issue
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I notice that absolutely nothing has been said by our human rights groups about this issue of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) withholding information from the Jamaican public about which toilet tissues are unsafe for use.
The BSJ has published a list of supposedly safe brands, but has all but refused to apprise us of the unsanitary brands.
It therefore means that Jamaicans are still relatively in the dark on this matter, and are at serious risk, particularly women and young girls.
The irony of this whole situation is that, once again, it is poor people who will suffer the most, as the top-of-the-line, expensive brands, which only the wealthy or middle class can afford, are on the approved list.
Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton had the audacity to tell the press that he has nothing to say on the matter and holds whatever position the BSJ does. How callous! In the meantime, thousands of Jamaican women continue to be at risk, using toilet tissue already bought, or still being bought, which possibly contain bacteria which can harm them over the long term.
Remember, poor women don't readily go to the gynaecologist, so some women will be carrying infections for extended periods before it is caught, by which time serious harm may have already been done.
I implore all Jamaicans to speak up. Human rights groups, speak out. This is as good a cause as speaking up for the victims of police brutality. This is a matter of public safety.
Khaillah Carneigie
St Andrew
Don't flush the tissue issue
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