The Editor, Sir:

Slavery and reparations are hot topics in Jamaica. But here are some hard questions before anything can be closed. First, who will get paid? Will the Maroons get payment as well as those with a drop of black blood? Second, where does the slave stop and the free person begin? Is slavery mental or physical? Lastly, who will make payment and how?

The fact is it is hard to decide who should receive the money.

The definition of slavery would allow every Jamaican family to make claim for payment because so many of us have a little of everything. Should the payment be from the Government or from the business sector?

The business sector will say that they committed no crimes hence no compensation. Yet the Government may say that it's the business elites and companies that took advantage of the fact that slavery was legal. Hence the parties responsible should be the economic sector and not the Government.

All logical arguments can be laid down as to pay or not pay. But what would we do with the money anyway? I am sure everyone would be in a party mode if a payment was made and one week later there would be complaints that the money was too small and we need more.

Here is a suggestion. Since there are those that want this closure in the form of cash, the Government can begin talks with those it deems responsible for the payment.

National debt

The payment should then be used to pay down directly the national debt. If the sum is 1.5 billion British pounds sterling, that would represent almost US$3billion or almost 27 per cent of the debt. Currently for every dollar the Government makes it spends 67 per cent on servicing the debt with only 33 cents left to run the country. This would increase dramatically the amount of money the Government can spend on education and social infrastructure, therefore all Jamaicans will benefit from the labour of our ancestors.

I am, etc.,

CAROL LAWTON Jr.

showa88@hotmail.com

PO Box 2311

Kingston 8