THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHERE DO we get these hare-brained ideas from? Is this the 21st century or what? I heard a report that we are going to England to check out the "buses on rail" notion for consideration for use in Jamaica. Where are we going to put these rails or do we intend to use the abandoned railway lines? If it's the railway lines, why not resurrect the rail service it might be more practical. Will someone tell me where in England this "bus on rail" idea is so progressive that we need to adopt it? If it is there in some remote area - do we really need it or, is it that they are getting rid of this system, and somehow we consider it beneficial to us! We can't even afford to fully fix our current diminishing "b" roads, yet we are considering building rails to accommodate buses. How will it benefit the people and what value will it give to the economy?
Another thing that has been in the news lately, is that of closed circuit television cameras on the roadways intended to police the traffic. The UK for example, is a country where closed circuit cameras are used to help to police dual carriageways/motorways, but this is a place where these cameras are additional to good conditioned police stations, structured operations, adequate equipment, expertise, training etc. In other words, the system has more than adequately equipped itself otherwise to provide consistently high service.
We apparently do not even have the funds to ensure that all our police stations are habitable; I often read/hear about the equipment the JCF is short of to efficiently and effectively perform various functions. Why not utilise the funds to address the shortfalls/shortcomings of the Jamaica Constabulary Force instead of talking about short circuit TV cameras on roadways which will inevitably be vandalised or vanish into thin air, similar to the Old Harbour bypass rails.
I am, etc.,
P. MESSAM
mesp@jamweb.net mesp@jamweb.net
Kingston 8
Via Go-Jamaica
