THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE BARBARIC treatment of police officers has to stop. We Jamaicans cannot continue to murder and maim our police officers so indiscriminately. We have to preserve justice by preserving those who are seeking to preserve justice. It is true there are police officers who are undisciplined and corrupt. But, why we going to crucify all police officers?
Many of us in society are guilty of misconduct. Still, there is the judicial system to rectify by trial in a court of law to arrive at a solution.
When a police officer is killed a wide range of persons are affected. Those affected are the immediate family members. Even the extended family and other friends can be adversely affected. There is no widespread blocking of roads, wailing and weeping from entire communities. There seems to be no signs of anger and bitterness being demonstrated by the common man on the streets.
We cannot sit by with folded arms and tolerate this type of infringement on our God-given rights. When police officers are killed in the line of duty, children and wives should be given swift compensation.
To all police officers, do not get too vengeful on the society you are living in because not everyone hates you. There are many who are instrumental in the preservation of justice, just like you. Be always good and be careful.
I am, etc.,
PARIS TAYLOR
Greater Portmore
St. Catherine
Who will be the executioner?
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WANT to preface my comments with the following quote from D.K. Duncan's article of July 2, 2002:
"The consensus document on crime and violence is premised on a treatment plan that... if the problem is killed at the root then the effects we don't want will go away."' Presumably there are effects that "we" want.
I will supply the answer to Dr. Duncan's question "Who will be the executioner?" Anyone but the politicians! The tribalisation of the people is not an incidental occurrence. The people are divided to better achieve their subjugation. The signing of a "consensus document" is as meaningless as the signing of the "peace treaty" in the late 70s.
The question, however, bears repeating. Who will be the executioner? I am presumptuous enough to say the warriors on the field of battle, first of all, and then the war-weary, peace-loving folk. Yes, those who bear the brunt of this scourge are going to rid themselves of it ultimately. I hope it will be soon.
I have accepted, without challenge, the premise that the root of the crime and violence in Jamaica is "political tribalism." If the politicians assert it, I shall not contest it. The question that is in need of resolution is this: What is at the root of this political tribalism?
At the root of this state of 'ISM' is a society of few HAVES and a multitude of HAVENOTS. There are many among the great multitude of the deprived who will kill and maim for the promise of a few scraps. The problem of political tribalism is fundamentally a problem of social inequity. This is the problem that needs to be addressed. Who will be the executioner of this condition of inequity? Who, indeed?!
Perhaps the old 'leftist' will give us a hint.
I am etc
ADUKU ADDAE
jamericanbwoy@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
Chaos at the Boston Jerk Festival
THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE JAMAICA Tourist Board (JTB) must be commended for attempting to improve the offerings at Boston Jerk Festival, but the attempts were overshadowed by the clear lack of organisation for gaining access to the festival grounds. The humid temperatures that prevailed in Portland did not help the chaos that reigned outside the gates of the Boston playing field.
This is an open letter to JTB to address the ticketing system for this event. It is unconscionable that persons (even more unthinkable for children) be forced to stand in makeshift queues for close to one hour to gain access to an event that they are paying for! To help alleviate the burdensome experience I kept thinking of the myriad of painless things that my three hundred dollars could fund!
Looking around at the angry sweaty faces around me, I believe that many people were also thinking, "what am I doing here?!"
I am etc,
J. LINDSAY
76 Caribbean Terrace
Kingston 17
Letters@gleanerjm.com
A psychic fame
THE EDITOR, Sir:
KINDLY ALLOW me to use this medium to offer my condolence to the families and friends of Safa Asontuwa of psychic fame. News of Safa's ghastly death left me bemused and in the same vein utterly livid. Safa's candour at times could be deemed offensive but did he deserve to be slaughtered and disposed of like a piece of unwanted refuse? My answer is an emphatic no.
Safa was without doubt talented, landing jobs at different media houses where he did relatively short stints. His rise to local fame was, however, not obvious until he adroitly insinuated himself into the living rooms of most curious Jamai-cans. The programme Quest was born and the host was the 'Reada man' Safa. In the initial stage Quest found favour with many Jamaicans hungry to pre-empt their future; but unfortunately as it matured it became a bit distasteful and was later suspended. Quest was created solely for entertainment and let us not delude ourselves, many of us feasted off it while it lasted, Safa was unluckily the scapegoat and paid the ultimate price.
Television Jamaica took the appropriate step in terminating the programme and that should have been the end of that but instead some unsightly criminal in keeping with the precedent set had to have the last word. Safa may have been as candid as they get, but he did not deserve to go the way he went.
My wish is that the perpetrators in the same way they sought to get even be slapped with the full brunt of the law.
I am etc
DENVER-PAUL MORGAN
dennspice@yahoo.com
Mineral Heights
May Pen P.O.,
Clarendon
Via Go-Jamaica
