THE EDITOR, Sir:IN MY sporadic readings, I came across last week's column by Dawn Ritch, and because we have a tendency to have divergent opinions on most topics, I rarely scrutinise her ramblings.
However, last Sunday's article, "CARICOM is a big farce", in my estimation totally encapsulates the core of her writing style, which in my humble opinion, is very negative, consistently lacking suggestions for improvement.
Let me not say, however, that I disagree with all she wrote, as Jamaica's inability/unwillingness to confront the drug trans-shipment business is worthy of scorn and outrage, and she should shine the journalistic spotlight on these deficiencies in our society.
ULTIMATE POWER
Ms. Ritch in her article places the United States as the ultimate power in all things, and indeed they are, yet they too are flawed, and subject to the ridicule of even thugs like Mr. Putin, who heaped scorn on accusations of impropriety in his recent re-election, by bringing up Mr. Bush's own questionable electoral history. So gods though the U.S. may be, they are more the Greek variety than the Jewish, in my view.
So to her unnecessary attack on CARICOM, which as ineffectual as it may be now, represents the best possible avenue for greater economic and social development. Why decry this institution, and not suggest a better alternative? If they are so inept, and their membership "becoming hysterical...looked scared to death...eyes darting this way and that" at the reactions of the U.S. to the deterioration of an already decaying social infrastructure (in the obvious absence of a viable economic one) by a few malcontents with money, then how should they react? Tell us, make suggestions that should form part of your criticisms, Ms Ritch. Someone with your ability to pick out what is wrong, must have suggestions as to how to improve them.
VIETNAM
As to the U.S. protecting the Prime Minister and not Aristide, then let us look to history, and examine what the U.S. has done in terms of "propping up" democracy or any other form of government. Does Vietnam ring a bell? For years, the U.S. has supported both dictatorships established by coup over legitimate elected governments or long established monarchies, so long as it was in "U.S. interests" so to do. The arrogance of the U.S. to now be criticising Jamaica for our position on the Aristide situation also begs to be voiced.
Back to CARICOM though and the farce they are purported to be.
Ms. Ritch, what alternative is there to CARICOM, and what should their response have been to the heavy-handed tactics allegedly employed by the U.S. in the removal of Aristide?
I am, etc.,
WARREN WILSON Jr.
wwilsonjr@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
Via Go-Jamaica
