Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
SENATOR DWIGHT Nelson, president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), has called on all Jamaicans to work together to remove the "ugliness" that is killing the nation's children and denigrating our women.
Senator Nelson said it was time to return to the old days when the country used to live together as one. He made the call while giving greetings at the Labour Day thanksgiving service at the Highholborn Street Church of God in downtown Kingston, yesterday.
"We were once a proud and loving people. There was once beauty in all our relationships with each other. It is unfortunate that this beauty in our relationships in Jamaica has been replaced by a crude and crass behaviour toward each other," he said.
"Ugliness has overwhelmed our relationships and threatens to consume us."
Senator Nelson said while the confederation encourages all to clean up their environment this Labour Day, it was also everyone's duty to eliminate the ugliness that has removed our inner beauty.
"We see the ugliness of our inner being as we maim and murder our children without compassion. We see the ugliness of what was once beautiful national interactions as we denigrate our women in songs, in dance and with domestic violence," he said.
Senator Nelson also rejected comments made by a senior member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who said it was the culture of the Jamaican people to settle simple disputes with violence.
CHALLENGE TO REBUILD THE NATION
"As trade unionists, we hang our heads in shame when a foreigner, albeit a member of our security forces, could state assertively that it is the Jamaican culture to settle dispute with violence," he said.
"We reject this. This ugliness is not the culture of Jamaica. Yes, as we clean up our landscape, let us also clean our minds," he said.
Reverend Al Miller, who delivered the sermon, challenged all to work together to rebuild Jamaica. He said that this Labour Day should mark a day of not only physical rebuilding, but also a wholesome rebuilding of the country.
Present at the service were Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who read the first lesson, and Andrew Holness, who represented Leader of the Opposition, Bruce Golding.
Labour Day will be celebrated on Tuesday under the theme 'Jamaica's Beauty - Our Duty'.
