Letter of the day - Nicole Webb deserves better treatment
published: Tuesday | June 22, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I READ Dawn Ritch's article on page A9 of The Sunday Gleaner of June 20 entitled, 'A Government without pity' and I was reduced to tears. Yes I literally cried. I implore everyone who has not yet read this article, to please do so.

I look at Nicole Webb's case and I wonder had this been someone from the upper strata of our society, would this be happening? I am angry, saddened and ashamed that a government who purports that it "cares for poor people" could allow this to happen! My God, Nicole was evicted from her apartment, as she could no longer pay her rent! And this because she can no longer work as a result of a bullet which she did not put there herself. (Nicole Webb was shot in her back by the police while sitting in the back of a taxi-cab and the Court ruled - two years ago - that she be compensated $12 million! Miss Webb is crippled as a result of the bullet).

Would the powers that be - be it Cabinet Office, or Office of the Prime Minister, of the Ministry of National Security and/or Justice show some concern and intervene in this matter? After all, Nicole deserves to be treated better. God forbid that her internal infections become complicated and threaten her life! The Government must and should make every effort to compensate her per the ruling of the Court.

I am, etc.,

ANDREA LAWRENCE

St. Catherine