Stand up and be counted
published: Thursday | May 13, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I FIND it very upsetting the way politicians and other prominent people in Jamaica, tend to highlight acts by Government, that sometimes impact negatively on poor citizens (rightly so), but they never seem to see the acts of injustice that are carried out by well known and established businesses in this country, that make people who are employed to these companies poorer and which even foster poverty by their exploitation of workers.

When employers of a well known established company in Jamaica, make a decision to make redundant and to retire hundreds of workers, some with ten to thirty years or more service, with little or no pension in the evening of their days, what better recipe for poverty is there? It can be said it's the responsibility of the Government to make laws to protect the most vulnerable in the society (rightly so), but I find an unwillingness on the part of prominent people and politicians from both sides of the political divide to highlight the exploitation of poor working people.

Is it that the politician has nothing to score if he is not attacking his counterpart, and others are afraid to upset their big business friends or partners for fear of their privileges being cut? Stand up and be counted, identify with truth, right and justice, so we can work together to create a more equitable country. Let us all work towards these workers getting a fair slice of the cake they have toiled for decades to build, and not reach the sunset of their lives rejected and destitute.

I am, etc.,

MAXWELL GAYLE

mackey@cwjamaica.com

P.O. Box 21,

Kingston 20