THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT incident in Spaldings, involving community demonstrations, cannot be condoned and should be seen as an important shift in the perception of crime, punishment and justice by the people of this and other Jamaican communities.
While I condemn the behaviour of my fellow 'country folks' I empathise with them and think there is basis for their behaviour.
I would like to address what I think are some of the fundamental issues that have led to this breakdown of discipline and lack of respect for authority. I firmly believe that society needs government and that we need politicians to guide and oversee the operations of government. The elected leaders in Jamaica have abdicated their responsibilities to govern.
During the 1960s, I was a young boy growing up in a remote district in Manchester. The people of Norway and Good-In-Tent were humble, poor and lacked resources, but they knew that they could depend on the government to enforce the law of the land. An example of this was in the way in which, the Public Works Department, the Health Department, the Police and the schools responded to the people - these remote, poor, isolated Jamaican communities.
The roads were repaired based on the needs and according to the rules. If we had road repairs, proper written warning signs would be posted in the days, and lanterns would be lit at nights to indicate the danger involved, although this was a poor isolated community. People respected the police because the police commanded our respect and in turn we had civility. Can anyone remember the last time adequate warnings signs were put up at a major road repair job in the most developed town in Jamaica. Where are the Public Health Inspectors on a Friday morning when animals are slaughtered for public consumption? Who is responsible for the schools the health centres? Where is the accountability?
I am etc.,
DENNIS FRANCIS
Denafranco55@hotmail.com
Poughkeepsie, New York
Via Go-Jamaica
