THE EDITOR, Sir:
"We have to burn down the village in order to save it." This comment by a US soldier as he flicked his lighter to set fire to a rural hamlet because some Viet Cong used it as a sanctuary, has been immortalised as a classic symbol of America's bankrupt policy in its war in Viet Nam.
His illogical explanation came to mind today (Monday, 19/9) when we read your front page article calling for the removal of Roaring River village in Westmoreland because some citizens' latrines overflowed and the effluent was leaching into the river. As your article points out, the latrines, installed by Government in the 1990's to prevent this occurrence, have never been emptied. Doesn't it make sense, rather than destroy the village to simply dispatch a cesspool emptying truck to Roaring River?
The village which was founded in the 1670's deserves a better fate than to be summarily deleted without the consent of its 200 families who have been living there for centuries and have legal title to their land.
As for the "squatters" mentioned in the article, these are local residents who have makeshift kiosks beside the Roaring River Cave Park, a TPDCO attraction, selling various items and craft to the visitors. They have long been promised legitimisation and are awaiting relocation inside the park.
We hope the easily solvable sewerage problem is not masking other reasons by the powers that be for destroying this 300-year-old village. All that is required is to empty the latrines and do whatever is necessary to legitimise the vendors in the park.
PS: Oh, and while they are at it, please fulfil a decade-long promise to fix the humpy-bumpy road that prevents visitors from frequenting one of Jamaica's premier natural attractions.
I am etc.,
ED KRITZLER
edkritzler@yahoo.com
Roaring River
Petersfield PO
