THE EDITOR, Sir:
IS JAMAICA a failing state? Two schools, Charlie Smith and Trench Town High, have shut their doors for two days in protest to make the stand against the lawlessness in south St. Andrew, which affects their schools, both teachers and students alike.
It appears that the state has failed when we have a student being taken by marauding gunmen from her school to be sexually abused. Is this not anarchy?
It was only about three weeks ago, the Opposition demonstrated their frustration with the overall operation of the state, where there is high inflation, high prices, high electricity and the hiking bus fares. The Government is not maintaining the roads in the parishes, and this is evident in 'St. Bess' in particular, where the farmers and taxi men protested against deteriorating road conditions in the parish. When the Government is unable to pay the police force who provide protection in our communities then there is no question as to state failing to 'serve and protect'.
The question then ... was Mr. Bill Clarke, managing director of the Bank of Nova Scotia, right when he said that Jamaica is a failed state?
I am, etc.,
THEOPHILUS JACKSON
tajjacko@yahoo.co.uk
Student, University College of the Caribbean
