Dear Editor,
I have to agree with the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into the military incursion of Tivoli, as recommended by the public defender, would be a grand waste of time and money. I also have to agree with the JLP leader that the better thing to do is to compensate the victims.
It's as if we never learn in this country. The last major Commission of Enquiry, which was related to Tivoli, was a very expensive one that cost us taxpayers millions. Yet, apart from making some well-connected lawyers rich, it achieved absolutely nothing. So why go through this again?
I know that a lot of our better-connected lawyers are now salivating at the prospect of earning huge amounts of money if they are asked to serve on such a commission. The tens of thousands of dollars that they are looking forward to would, again, cost us dearly. That money would be better spent on the victims - the people of West Kingston.
I wonder if any of those who are calling for this expensive commission have ever taken a good walk through those communities? I have reason to go through them often; it is not a pretty sight. The buildings are overcrowded, old and dilapidated. Too many of the residents live in abject poverty and are unemployed. Broken public sewer mains are the norm, and many young people seem to have little hope of better.
I would want to suggest that the millions of dollars that would be spent lining the pockets of these lawyers be instead spent on giving the people of Tivoli and adjoining areas real hope.
A fund could be established giving those with bright business ideas low-cost loans. Many of the young ones have to drop out of school due to a lack of funding. Why not establish a school fee grant fund with that money? How about using some of that money to fix the many broken sewer mains that make these areas smell bad?
At the end of a commission, if approved, the residents of Tivoli and surrounding areas would remain in the same poverty-stricken position. Let's not use the taxes that some of these residents are paying to enrich well-connected people; let's direct it to addressing the plight of the victims.
Michael A Dingwall
No to Tivoli enquiry
-->
I have to agree with the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into the military incursion of Tivoli, as recommended by the public defender, would be a grand waste of time and money. I also have to agree with the JLP leader that the better thing to do is to compensate the victims.
It's as if we never learn in this country. The last major Commission of Enquiry, which was related to Tivoli, was a very expensive one that cost us taxpayers millions. Yet, apart from making some well-connected lawyers rich, it achieved absolutely nothing. So why go through this again?
I know that a lot of our better-connected lawyers are now salivating at the prospect of earning huge amounts of money if they are asked to serve on such a commission. The tens of thousands of dollars that they are looking forward to would, again, cost us dearly. That money would be better spent on the victims - the people of West Kingston.
I wonder if any of those who are calling for this expensive commission have ever taken a good walk through those communities? I have reason to go through them often; it is not a pretty sight. The buildings are overcrowded, old and dilapidated. Too many of the residents live in abject poverty and are unemployed. Broken public sewer mains are the norm, and many young people seem to have little hope of better.
I would want to suggest that the millions of dollars that would be spent lining the pockets of these lawyers be instead spent on giving the people of Tivoli and adjoining areas real hope.
A fund could be established giving those with bright business ideas low-cost loans. Many of the young ones have to drop out of school due to a lack of funding. Why not establish a school fee grant fund with that money? How about using some of that money to fix the many broken sewer mains that make these areas smell bad?
At the end of a commission, if approved, the residents of Tivoli and surrounding areas would remain in the same poverty-stricken position. Let's not use the taxes that some of these residents are paying to enrich well-connected people; let's direct it to addressing the plight of the victims.
Michael A Dingwall
No to Tivoli enquiry
-->