The Editor, Sir:

I read Kevin O'Brien Chang's article titled 'Save our children, please' in The Sunday Gleaner and I would like to make the following comments.

While I appreciate Kevin's passion and emotion on the rape and murder of our children over the last few weeks, I am astonished at his anger at politicians. I would like to tell Kevin that my colleagues and I are horrified at what is happening, but to listen to you, we are damned if we say anything, and damned if we don't. Raging over politicians and what they say or don't say is not going to solve this problem. Jumping up and down won't do it either and I am upset that you should presume that we do not care.

I not only spoke many times on the radio over what was happening, but I attached photographs of Ananda Dean my vehicle and drove all over the place hoping that I could stimulate interest and praying that someone had seen her. I drove to Kingston and I visited with her relatives.

Lambaste politicians

While we are all upset over what is happening to us, I think that the worst thing that we can do now is to point fingers and lambaste politicians for not caring. Frankly, I could do the same to you and many others who seem to see it fit to rip us up. I did not see you Mr Chang at any of the rape scenes or the murder scenes in Mandeville. How come? Why did you not come and be with the relatives and friends who need comfort and help? I have never seen you in the hospital with the victims, I have never seen you visit a family or go to any of the funerals. Why not?

Screaming relatives

I mean, as a person who writes in the newspaper, don't you care? Why don't you get involved? Why don't you come see the women raped, with their throats slashed and guts cut out, like I have? Why don't you try being in the bush in the dark, with the blood and the screaming relatives?

Why is it that you think that you can sit in your office and judge us? How would you know what we feel and what we do? Who gives you the right to judge us, us who are out there, in the night, while you are at home in bed?

I think that everyone has the right to make their suggestions and to make their points on what should be done on this issue and on others, but do not dare try to tell this country how I feel, me, a politician, a person who is trying to help. Don't do it! And if you must, walk the walk, Kevin! Don't just talk the talk!

I am, etc.,

SALLY PORTEOUS

sporteous@infochan.com

Councillor Mandeville Division