THE EDITOR, Sir:AS THE Government and the Opposition prepares to debate the draft of the terrorism bill in Parliament without first or concurrently addressing our preparedness as a nation to the possible effects of terrorism, the cart has been sneaked in front of the lazy horse again.
In my view, before a terrorist is identified or the effects of terrorism felt, the real perpetrators will have committed their acts and moved to a safer environment. Bio-terrorism in particular is noted for its delayed effects, and victims may not even be aware that they have been infected until the terrorists have long gone.
Furthermore, with food crops being increasingly used to produce pharmaceuticals and drugs and the recombining of viruses and bacteria with the potential to generate new and unpredictable pathogens, whole populations can be seriously affected without it having anything to do with terrorism.
We must therefore put the horse in front of the cart, by placing greater emphasis on preparedness. We would like to see the establishment of a component authority with responsibility for the strengthening and co-ordination of our response capability, a networking of our security, medical, public health teams and laboratories throughout the island, a parish by parish population health surveillance, labelling and traceability of all goods, the protection testing and monitoring of our water supplies, comprehensive training within our schools, businesses, post offices, hospitals, farms and factories to equip our people on how to survive within the new unfolding environment. Giddyup!
I am, etc.,
CARLTON STEWART
National Consumers League
consumercare@cwjamaica.com
Kingston 5
