THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON TUESDAY, May 21, I read with concern a letter to the editor entitled "Education and the PNP" by A. Cheddasing.
In the letter, Cheddasing contends that in a televised interview, Patrick Roberts (Shocking Vibes Production CEO) "downplayed the need for any form of educational achievement." Cheddasing also argued that Mr. Roberts "was not even articulate enough to represent himself in the interview."
Finally, Cheddasing attempts to disqualify Mr. Roberts' candidacy to the PNP on the basis that the PNP "has always been a party with high intellectual capacity."
Patrick Roberts is supportive of solid education for Jamaicans. This is quite evident in his co-founding of the Craig Town Youth Organisation (CTYO). Every Saturday, myself and Dr. Clinton Hutton volunteer as educators for CTYO. We teach the bright young minds of Craig Town various classes that will aid in their positive development. Patrick Roberts is always present in all these classes, from beginning to end.
He continually explains to the class the importance of a good education. I have also observed him on occasions literally walking the streets of Craig Town and begging the young people to attend the classes.
Patrick Roberts has always lauded my education achievements and used my accomplishments as an example when he is encouraging the young people of his community to achieve more. He tells them, "ghetto people can do university work too." Therefore, Patrick Roberts' thinking and action profoundly contradicts Cheddasing's baseless allegations.
Cheddasing's statements are actually a manifestation of the complicated interplay of extremely complex socio-cultural issues that are quite troubling in our country today. These issues involve patterns of socialisation, Jamaican cultural constructions of the qualified leader, interpretations of social status based on linguistic codes, and collective psychological insecurity evolving from the residue of our plantation heritage, to name a few.
Space does not permit an appropriate exploration of these issues in this letter. But, suffice to simply state, we should cease locking out our fellow Jamaicans from leadership based on the premise that they are not sufficiently intellectual.
I am, etc.,
KINGSLEY STEWART, Ph.D
Anthropologist and
Psychotherapist
Lecturer
University of the West Indies
