THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM absolutely amazed at your editorial on Saturday in which you charge that the Cabinet, by official edict and without any popular consultation, has changed the interpretation of the colour black in the Jamaican flag.
May I remind you of the Nettleford Report of 1996, which was the outcome of national consultations - involving thousands of Jamaicans across the country and which made several recommendations relating to national symbols and observances.
Even before then, many persons at differing levels of the society had strongly expressed their disquiet at the equating of "black" with hardships.
The Nettleford Committee unanimously recommended a change and suggested a range of options. These were considered by the Parliamentary Committee which proposed the change to "strong and creative". This was accepted and the Cabinet was simply reiterating that decision of Parliament.
The decision to modify the interpretation of the colours of the flag was only one of the outcomes of the Nettleford Consultations, Review and Report. It certainly is common knowledge that the decision to re-introduce Emancipation Day as a national holiday and to observe August 6, rather than the first Monday in August, as Independence Day came as a result of the consultative process and was implemented in 1997.
It is gratifying to note that there is at least qualified support for efforts to generate respect for our symbols, but it is unfortunate that you fail to appreciate that in the matter of the flag, the Government was simply drawing attention this week to something which was decided five years ago after consultation.
Perhaps in the interest of helping us as a nation get symbolic but important details right, you would also note that the second line of our national anthem correctly reads, "Guard us with Thy might hand" and not "Guide" as is often heard.
I am, etc.,
BURCHELL WHITEMAN
Minister of Information
