THE EDITOR, Sir:
PSOJ PRESIDENT Oliver Clarke's message to the gathering at the opening of Emancipation Park was a challenge to our present Prime Minister and those to come. Prime Ministers are our country's chief executive officers, and as such are charged with the full responsibility to properly manage our affairs. The present Prime Minister should spare nothing in implementing measures to immediately start the process of emancipating the two million Jamaicans for whom Mr. Clarke speaks. His message is right on the bulls eye and could not be more timely and appropriate.
No more can be done for a people in any nation than to give them hope; whereby a child on entering school can plot a future i.e. do well in school, earn a living, provide and care for a family all in preparation for the next generation. For the child to accomplish this feat the government led by the Prime Minister must create the kind of environment: conducive to individuals comfort in living and moving around, where development takes place at a pace to provide the wherewithal for the citizen to earn a living and where the taxpayer can feel satisfied that the tax dollar is spent to the fullest benefit of the nation.
The 310,000 slaves who were freed in 1838 were valuable to their masters. They were bought and shipped here from far off lands and sold to owners of sugar estates at profitable prices to be used for the production of sugar. They had to be kept in the best working condition and it was in the best interest of the masters to see to it that there good health was maintained. The slavemasters of which Mr. Clarke speaks acquired their slaves at little or no cost at all, and they could end up with a hand break or a foot break. This would be at no loss to the owner as there were many more where those came from who had better come running at a beck or a call.
The overwhelming challenges we face right now, according to Mr. Clarke, is to emancipate Jamaicans who live here of the present slavemasters who are criminals, druggists and extortionists. They dispense justice in many communities, tell the people where they can work, where they can walk, where they can live, where they can go to church and what they can hope for.
These conditions must be terminated and Jamaica retrieved. There must be fear for God, love for our country, trust in the justice system and love for our neighbours for Jamaica to be what it should really be.
Oliver Clarke's massage must be proclaimed throughout Jamaica. The print media must take the lead and print it over and over and over until we start to recite it. Never mind that the messenger is your boss and his employees may appear to be praising him; remember it is not the messenger that is important it is the message.
I support and agree with the message and my heartiest congratulations to the messenger.
I am, etc.,
CEDRIC H.S.RICHARDS
randr@jamweb.net
