THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT'S WITH great concern that I read Desmond Henry's article, "A culture of vultures", in your March 22 edition of The Gleaner. While I totally agree that lack of suitable consequence leads to growth and continuation of crime in Jamaica, I think Mr Henry misses the point that this is in general, based on sociological degeneration and under-development.
With Jamaica's economy in its present state it is little wonder that pillaging, looting, vandalising and swallowing pellets of drugs remain key features of survival for our nation's working class. If it was any other way there would be an all-out war.
We are all to blame, we all contribute to the socio-economic construct of our society. As some of us turn our noses up at the vultures and the vulgar citizens, the rest of us can seek to understand the root of most of the criminal activities below the poverty line - lack of opportunity, education, health care, respect and acknowledgement.
As for those above the poverty line, greed leads to the vicious cycle in which the nation's majority remain exploited.
So the next time we drive into the streets with our upturned windows dismissing the windscreen wipers with a flick of the wrist and we see our own indulging in "common culture," let us try to remember that while peel-head John Crow sits down on a tree top to pick off the blossoms, he stops the possibility of fruitfulness that is necessary to feed the rest of the nation.
I am etc.,
KALA NNEKA GRANT
kalanneka@yahoo.com
West Midlands,
United Kingdom
Via Go-Jamaica
