Dear Editor,
It is rather sad that in the midst of all the hype and arguments over the new no-smoking laws, we who have to travel on the roads every day are constantly bombarded and attacked from vehicles, especially the yellow JUTC buses and other public transport buses, by the noxious and toxic black smoke and fumes blasting from the exhaust systems on those vehicles, making even visibility difficult, much less breathing. This continues and escalates with absolutely no action or even a mention from the authorities regarding the flouting of this particular "smoking" law.
As for the Noise Abatement Act, this is a pathetic joke. In the plazas — think Twin Gates, for one — on the roads, in residential areas, at all hours of day and night, the noise goes on and on and gets louder and louder from sound systems. I have read where people who called about it have been threatened by the perpetrators and warned to shut up and "suck it up". I personally have called the police only to hear "they have a permit, or they would not be having the session". In other words, where noise abuse is concerned, we can all also "suck it up". I dread the upcoming very expensive and glorious Independence celebrations and the inevitable increase in noise and indiscipline. Look around, what exactly are we celebrating? The homeless adults (think Olivia) and children on the streets? The huge potholes and blocked drains? The lewd dancehall mode of dress of our women, even in church? The disrespectful, aggressive and downright dangerous windshield wipers? (Loudly kissing my teeth.)
I have heard that some people are whispering that this is a failed State. We need to understand right now that we are living in a garbage dump of a country, reeking with stinking worms of complete lack of consideration, lawlessness and indiscipline. We have a generation and another coming up fast, who worship crime and obscenity, and whose heroes are not who they should be by any means.
Whether we like it or not should not matter: we need international intervention to save us from ourselves as a nation. But of course, neither of our two glorious political parties, green or orange, will be prepared to take the first step to seriously save this country, as they are always too busy fighting each other and "bigging up" themselves — so, on we go into the darkness from which there certainly will be no return.
Sadan Tayad
Kingston 10
Smoking and the state of the nation
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It is rather sad that in the midst of all the hype and arguments over the new no-smoking laws, we who have to travel on the roads every day are constantly bombarded and attacked from vehicles, especially the yellow JUTC buses and other public transport buses, by the noxious and toxic black smoke and fumes blasting from the exhaust systems on those vehicles, making even visibility difficult, much less breathing. This continues and escalates with absolutely no action or even a mention from the authorities regarding the flouting of this particular "smoking" law.
As for the Noise Abatement Act, this is a pathetic joke. In the plazas — think Twin Gates, for one — on the roads, in residential areas, at all hours of day and night, the noise goes on and on and gets louder and louder from sound systems. I have read where people who called about it have been threatened by the perpetrators and warned to shut up and "suck it up". I personally have called the police only to hear "they have a permit, or they would not be having the session". In other words, where noise abuse is concerned, we can all also "suck it up". I dread the upcoming very expensive and glorious Independence celebrations and the inevitable increase in noise and indiscipline. Look around, what exactly are we celebrating? The homeless adults (think Olivia) and children on the streets? The huge potholes and blocked drains? The lewd dancehall mode of dress of our women, even in church? The disrespectful, aggressive and downright dangerous windshield wipers? (Loudly kissing my teeth.)
I have heard that some people are whispering that this is a failed State. We need to understand right now that we are living in a garbage dump of a country, reeking with stinking worms of complete lack of consideration, lawlessness and indiscipline. We have a generation and another coming up fast, who worship crime and obscenity, and whose heroes are not who they should be by any means.
Whether we like it or not should not matter: we need international intervention to save us from ourselves as a nation. But of course, neither of our two glorious political parties, green or orange, will be prepared to take the first step to seriously save this country, as they are always too busy fighting each other and "bigging up" themselves — so, on we go into the darkness from which there certainly will be no return.
Sadan Tayad
Kingston 10
Smoking and the state of the nation
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