THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHILE THE entire nation continues to be so preoccupied with the subject of the infamous statues at Emancipation Park, I hope that a different monster that has reared its ugly head in the form of frequent muggings of visitors, will be quickly abated.
I attend a church in St. Catherine and during our Sunday 'Joys and Concerns' session, we learnt to our dismay, that members had been robbed at Emancipation Park on two occasions.
To me, this has a far-reaching effect on the future of Emancipation Park if the authorities do nothing to address the situation immediately.
The park could certainly do with a mini police station to reassure visitors. National Housing Trust is also best advised to look at ways by which it can make back the $4.5 million spent on the statues by generating revenues from it through souvenir sales. It's no use threatening all kinds of 'hot air' in a country where copyright law is in its infancy and is almost always abused. Before the air 'condenses', there will be hundreds of made-in-Taiwan-type souvenirs, with the foreign exchange earnings thereof going to strengthen another economy. We might as well capitalise on the gigantic opportunity that the phallus symbol presents.
The NHT has an endless marketing opportunity in the statues, particularly since all other topics of discussion in the society have taken to the back burner. Who to tell, by turning our 'scars' into 'stars', the 'Redemption Song' statues might yet contribute to the start of great tourism for the nation's capital.
I am, etc.,
CATHY TUCKER
Via Go-Jamaica
