THE EDITOR, Sir:THE RECENT ruling of the Privy Council makes it appear that the government will either have to call a referendum on the Caribbean Court of Justice or set the issue on an unlighted back burner.
The only way out is if Her Majesty's loyal Opposition should become engaged in a compromise that would deny the Jamaican people an opportunity to express the true national will.
The Privy Council ruling should make us pause to consider whether we have not wasted too much time, money and intellectual energy on this proposed Caribbean court.
NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS
A Caribbean Court of Justice may be a nice symbol of regional unity and self-respect. However, it cannot and will not do anything to assuage the Jamaican people's constant cry for justice.
It will not solve Jamaica's problems of murderous criminality, overwhelming unemployment, inferior education, failing agriculture, rising public debt, ever-increasing taxation and a cost of living that is driving more and more of our citizens into poverty and privation.
True nationalists do not believe it necessary to have a Caribbean court or an airline in order to develop pride in themselves and their country.
What we need is to have, or be involved in creating, a society in which citizens do not have to demonstrate, block roads and shed tears in their quest for justice; a land of opportunity for a sound education, with fair and equal facility for social and economic advancement; a place where the government does not have to go cap-in-hand to borrow from other countries; where we do not have to depend on imports to feed ourselves; and where the commanding heights of industry, commerce and financial services are owned and operated by our own people.
RE-ORDER PRIORITIES
After 42 years of Independence, our national spirit is lifted only periodically by a few individuals who excel in sports and music and the Spelling Bee.
There is as yet no lasting monument to which we can turn for upliftment and I dare to suggest that in this respect, the CCJ is not a solution.
It is time for somebody to 'tell it like it is' and demand a re-ordering of our priorities. It is way past time to stop fooling around with needless symbols that neither inspire confidence nor provide the essentials of peace, progress and prosperity
I am, etc.,
KEN JONES
alllerdyce@hotmail.com
