THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHAT HAS happened to the maxim: "Be your brother's keeper?" I read with dismay that the Government of Jamaica has once again refused a group seeking political asylum in Jamaica. I wonder on what basis? Is it because of the stories of marijuana smoking in their camp? Or, is it because we are simply inhumane and care not for those who we perceive not to be exactly like us?
If we were to look around us at the social, economic and moral decay in our country, we will realise that we are in the foetal stage of the Haitian birth. How far away are we from experiencing the same kind of dislocation? The fact is that even on a strictly humanitarian level, it is clear that the Haitians are deserving of our concern and love. Even if they do not qualify under the strict letter of the law, I would think that they would qualify based on the spirit of the law. The law is not supposed to be cold and impersonal... the law must have a human face.
It is not often I applaud Bishop Hero Blair, but I trust the Government will listen to his request to let the Haitians stay. My God! Over one thousand Haitians have died recently as a result of the storm, and many have suffered as a result of the civil war, travelling in dingy boats, hoping to find refuge, and we turn our backs on them. What kind of Government do we have?
It was the poet William Blake that so many years ago talked about man's inhumanity to man. We need to be kind to each other. We need to be our brothers' keeper. Will Jamaicans allow this to happen? I long for the Jamaica of old where a man could come knocking at your door and be given food. Is the good samaritan dead?
I am, etc.,
HAROLD MALCOLM
bruce_26@hotmail.com
Faculty of Law, UWI Cave
Hill,
St. Michael, Barbados
