THE EDITOR, Sir:
CONGRATULATIONS TO C&W Jamaica Ltd. for equipping our Parliament (Gordon House) with high-speed Internet access. What is now needed is for the responsible government agency to do two things. First, publish the email addresses and websites, for those who have, of all parliamentarians so that we the public can get our comments to them. Second, there should be a training programme for those who need it to make everyone, including staff, able to use the service.
There might still be many other challenges to be overcome, such as encouraging persons to write their MPs. Letter-writing campaigns are better than blocking roads and otherwise creating mayhem and inconveniencing the general public.
One way of encouraging this kind of letter-writing might be to start with annual competitions in the schools where students write to their MPs about matters that concern them. Since they might be voters in the next election, parliamentarians might pay attention to their comments.
A second barrier to getting the benefit of this facility is the number of Jamaicans who can afford a computer. Hopefully, the number is growing. In the meantime however, one gathers that a number of public facilities are in place at post offices (and other places) across the island. These, too, should be made public in the same releases that show the email addresses of our parliamentarians.
I am, etc.,
LLOYD A. VERMONT
lloydav@mail.infochan.com
PO Box 295
Stony Hill P.O.
Kingston 9
Via Go-Jamaica
