THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT WAS with extreme disgust that I read your report of Mr. James Robertson's reaction to his victory over Miss Olivia 'Babsy' Grange during the recent JLP conference.
In The Gleaner of November 9, 2003, it was reported that Mr. Robertson 'pointing his fingers and firing pretend gunshots in the air, he strode to the platform barely holding back in tears'.
We seem to have developed a 'gun culture' in our nation, as from time to time, I have noticed youngsters pointing their finger in similar fashion, pretending to fire a gun in the air, apparently to stress certain viewpoints.
For the youngsters to do this, it is bad. For someone of the intellect and position of Mr. Robertson, it is abominable. Mr. Robertson is a Member of Parliament, a person aspiring to be a leader of the JLP and potentially could be a future prime minister of Jamaica.
Is this a new type of role model for our young people? Hoping that his action was merely an outburst of youthful exuberance, I hope that persons like Mr. Delroy Chuck and Dr. Ken Baugh will set this young man straight.
Mr. Robertson should realise that as a Member of the Honourable House of Parliament, he is now in the national spotlight, and the nation is looking to him for leadership not only in the area of politics but in the areas of decency and decorum.
I am, etc.,
DISGUSTED
