THE EDITOR, Sir:MR. PERKINS has been the journalist who has made me as a young person more aware of what is happening as it relates to corruption in my country and how most things interrelate government, citizens' responsibilities and so on. I must say, I have learnt a lot from Perkins. I am even more interested in what happens in my country now which I will attribute to listening to Perkins.
However, I think Mr. Perkins needs to take his programme to another level. I am getting a little tired of the negative spin on most issues. I am tired of hearing quotes "things fall apart, the centre cannot hold", "Peter Phillips says those who play by the rules get shafted", "Ronnie says this government embarks on the most massive transfer of wealth from poor to rich", how "Omar Davies has to please his friends in Paris and Milan" and I could go on and on and on.
ENLIGHTENMENT
What Perkins needs to realise is that he needs to enlighten, then show people how they can be mobilised towards effecting changes. It's useless to be able to identify all the problems without being able to offer REAL alternative solutions. I am yet to hear Perkins congratulating the Olympic team for their achievements. The very next day, after the shutters came down in Athens, Greece, Perkins was saying we must not be led into thinking that a few gold medals or Veronica Campbell mining gold will change the problems we have here in Jamaica.
As Mr. Patterson declared the state of emergency Mr. Perkins' programme became more anti-PNP and anti-Patterson with no regard for the huge hurricane which was fast approaching. He was not even able to give people any suggestions as to what they could do to be prepared. I have not heard him send condolences to families who have lost loved ones in the passing of Hurricane Ivan.
I personally don't like the PNP nor Mr. Patterson, because I think the party feeds corruption and the party leader condones it by not nipping it when it happens. But the PNP and Mr. Patterson must have done Mr. Perkins some drastic and personal wrong. Isn't there anything good that is happening that you can talk about? I wonder what would happen to PERKINS ON LINE if Mr. Patterson and the PNP were to go tomorrow.
Careful Mr. Perkins, you may lose an ardent listener.
I am, etc.,
MICHAEL RICKETTS
mricketts@amkcom.com
c/o V.P. Graphics,
Quality and Systems
AMK Communications Ltd
Balmoral House
2 Balmoral Avenue,
Kingston 10
