Cartoon point
Las May's editorial cartoon yesterday hit the nail squarely on the head.
It showed the private sector freaking out over one high-profile killing, while the 'public' looked on in wonder, facing a proliferation of graves for ordinary Jamaicans.
It begs the question of what makes our alarms go off, what gets us concerned? The death of a statesman versus the death of an ordinary Jamaican? Is it not life being (unjustly) taken in both instances and shouldn't both cause us to worry?
- Ruth Howard ruthibelle@gmail.com
Paternity
Esther Tyson's article has once again identified the lack of paternity as the main cause of the social problems we are experiencing as a nation.
Once again, the call is being made to have a law enacted in Jamaica that the names of the fathers of all children should be placed on birth certificates at birth.
We ignore this call at our peril as we continue to produce angry, bitter people who turn to acts of criminality.
- Pauline Smith
psmithjam@hotmail
St Andrew
Licences for the deaf
Let me wholeheartedly thank Minister Andrew Gallimore for the splendid work he is doing, but more so with and for persons with disabilities.
Since September 2007, Minister Gallimore has been interfacing with the community for persons with disabilities and has inspired us to move the process forward in order to touch the lives of every person with disability in the length and breadth of this country.
Credit must be extended to former Senator Floyd Morris who started the process for the deaf to access driver's licences with a bang. Through his effort, all the processes were in place. However, the argument of a licence to be used by the deaf was pending for too long.
Driver's licence for the deaf and hard of hearing has been on the books for many years. His pronouncement at the House of Parliament Wednesday, July 2, has been most encouraging and timely.
I have driven with deaf persons on more than one occasion. As a matter of fact, my deaf driver friend drove me from Mandeville to Lucea, through Negril and back to Mandeville in an efficient and timely manner.
They are very road-conscious drivers and they will continue to be so once there is no obstacle in accessing their respective licences.
- Icelene Peck
