THE EDITOR, Sir:

I am able to trace my ancestry, on both sides of the family tree, to slavery. For the last few years before abolition, they were to be found in the western section of St. Ann and the Stewart Town area in Trelawny. So, I was hoping that my share of this reparation money would be available before Christmas as there are some outstanding matters that need to be addressed. It now seems unlikely that it will arrive in time and the longer I wait, the more obstacles I see. May I share some of them with you?

First, is this purely an emotional argument, or is there some legal basis for this claim? The research I have done so far would suggest that the slave trade was not illegal in any of the relevant jurisdictions. Second, the European traders did not sneak into Africa in the dead of night, hide behind some trees - butterfly nets at the ready - chase and catch our ancestors then sneak them on to their boats and 'dig off' before daybreak. They were held by our black brothers in facilities built for that purpose and sold to the Europeans. The process was as legal as, and familiar to, today's butcher travelling around the countryside in his van and buying all the cows, goats and pigs he can afford and doing whatever was required to make them fit in his van. To say 'sorry' is politically correct, and easy. But the money part?

Perhaps while we are waiting for this money we could put ourselves in a position to make the most of it when it arrives. How about starting by taking this matter of parenting seriously and demonstrate by strengthening the legislative framework and taking firm action that we are serious about this problem which, more than any other factor, is destroying the society? And while we are at it, could we educate the population? The one and two CXCs cannot manage reparation money.

Maybe if we got these right, when the reparation money comes, we would not need it.

I am, etc.,

GLENN TUCKER

Stony Hill

Kingston 9