THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I sat and read the article in the May 26 edition of The Gleaner about the elderly woman at Emancipation Park with the blood-soaked T-shirt, tears came to my eyes, because like every single Jamaican I have been through what she has been through. We have all lost
relatives and friends to the
murderous rampage that the criminals are on, and we continue to fear which one of our loved ones may be next.
As a Jamaican overseas you get bombarded with questions constantly about what is happening in Jamaica and what is being done about it. I often find myself saying it is not as bad as it sounds, but with what has been transpiring recently it is as bad as it sounds. I am really heartened by the show of support and the leadership the PSOJ is taking in the matter. While it is important for the politicians to declare their hand in their dealings with 'strong men' in their constituencies
and parties, I think we need to go further.
We need to insist that they introduce legislation that will allow the impeachment of officials that still maintain these linkages and also the possibility of recall legislation for those who we have elected to do our business, but who fail in their duties.
The days of blind political party allegiance are over. We elect people not to defend party interest or their self-interests, but to defend us and our interests. For too long they have been in cosy relations with persons of blatantly questionable reputation in order to protect their own interests. We each have a vote and we must use it to register our protests with our elected representatives. As that lady at Emancipation Park said, IT MUST STOP NOW.
I am etc.,
RICARDO SMALLING
rsmalling@sympatico.ca
St. Michael, Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
