THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON MONDAY December 16, your paper carried a picture on the front page. In this picture, two individuals dressed in Jonkunoo costumes were holding onto the hand of a child (about five years old) while waving a stick in a threatening gesture at the little boy (the men were part of a Jonkunoo parade put on by the JCDC at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre).
Mr. Editor, You did not have to look closely or be a child psychologist to observe the utter terror that came from that little boy's face. This child was terrified in the worst sense of the word.
We know that this kind of activity has been going on in this country in the name of culture, but while we were able to excuse ourselves in the past on account of ignorance, with what we now know in the area of psychology and in particular, child psychology, we can no longer excuse or condone such behaviour.
Our children should not be exposed to such barbaric and traumatic experiences. I believe that situations like these contribute to the widespread coarseness that prevails in this society. I appeal to the JCDC to put restrictions on such activities. Remember, not everything that is 'cultural' is good.
I am, etc.,
FLOYD BAKER
Montego Bay
