It is distressing, but not surprising, that those who make serious decisions that govern our lives think that a once-a-year show of fanfare on the waterfront could ever stimulate confidence in the restoration of downtown Kingston.

This fanfare has been held on and off for years now without any discernible impact on the basic attractiveness of downtown.

Need for help

It is grotesquely irresponsible to spend $12 million, however it is raised, on frivolity when the dire need for help to get through from one day to the next threatens to suffocate so many. As my wife would say - Jamaica's way to solve a problem is to put it to music. Revitalise downtown by having a party.

I know during slavery that was the approach of last resort, but with a difference. Every musical note, every dance move, every word of lyrics, conveyed a message beyond assuaging hurt and relieving frustration. It was a call to arms, to resistance, to survival, to parody, to reassert dignity and sense of self, all as part of a larger process of liberation. Like everything else positive about the slavery experience, we have made this into titillating distraction, ironically perpetuating our misery when we wake up the next day. When will we really wake up?

This tomfoolery must end. Jamaica needs a titanic effort if we are not to go down with the ship.

I am, etc.,

H. DALE ANDERSON

hdaleandersn@gmail.com