Share the blame
published: Saturday | July 31, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WAS amused by a letter from an irate citizen complaining about the location of the American Embassy in Liguanea. The writer takes the easiest course: blame the U.S.A. for this 'arrogance'. Yet, how could the U.S. government erect a massive structure like an embassy without the approval of a zoning board (I must presume you have such things in Jamaica), which purportedly must canvass the opinion of people in the community; and also, must not the Jamaican government itself approve this building site?

The American Embassy is only doing what it has been allowed to do in Jamaica. It certainly cannot just build an embassy at its whim with the attendant traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, and security concerns surrounding such a project. Again, where is your Prime Minister in this affair, if the citizens are so unhappy with this embassy's location?

I regret that the writer feels we are a superpower out of control, but please take responsibility, if only once in a while, for your country's decision making.

I am, etc.,

GARDNER DISDAINE

gardis72@yahoo.com

Greenwich, Connecticut

Via Go-Jamaica