THE EDITOR, Sir:
NERO, THE emperor who came to power at the age of 16, was dangerously affected by youthful exuberance. Much addicted to song and dance and horse racing, he had little talent for politics; and ancient history tells us how he fiddled while Rome was being ravaged by fire in the year 0064. This monumental piece of irresponsibility came to mind last week when certain of our leaders were 'chewing the rag' and engaging in 'talks' while a conflagration raged at Riverton, endangering lives and property and covering much of the city with smoke and poisonous fumes.
Sadly, it was not only the country's leadership that was mired in complacency. The citizens too seemed comatose, reacting minimally to the life-threatening situation and mindless of the warning of what could result should such an outbreak of fire take place in a business or residential area. Riverton burned for days without the help of a fire engine; and as the flames were spreading our most serious response was to negotiate working conditions with a handful of disgruntled contractors alleged to have at least some knowledge of who struck the match or threw oil on the troubled garbage.
AWFUL STATE
Only a few months ago we had much to say about the island's serious lack of fire-fighting equipment. Parliamentarians exchanged words, Ministers of Government debated, people pointed fingers at each other, but up to now the fire service remains in its awful state. It is all like the operations of a water closet '...there is motion, commotion and the matter drops'.
We were told last week that the Corporate Area has about seven fire stations, but a total of only two or tree fire trucks that can be relied on to work at any given time. We were told that when a fire unit was sent to Riverton to help fight the blaze, it was turned back by hostile demonstrators. We were told at one stage that no one had any idea as to when the fire might be brought under control. We were told that residents as far away as Manor Park were affected by the air pollution. We were told that a police post is to be established to protect the dump, even though communities all over the country are short of security services. Yet complaints were few among the citizens and the people's representatives said not a word about the environmental hazards or the misplacement of priorities.
ANCIENT STORY
There is another ancient story, told in poetry by Lord Byron, about the fall of Belgium's capital; and it so resembles how Riverton burned while Jamaicans were celebrating the events at Athens. The cannon were sounding their destruction and warning voices were crying: "Did ye not hear it?" But the Belgian celebrants replied: " No; 'twas but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street./On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined; No sleep 'til morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet/To chase the glowing hours with flying feet."
It was not long afterwards that the consequences of complacency descended upon the Belgians. Can Jamaicans prevent history from repeating itself?
I am, etc.,
KEN JONES
alllerdyce@hotmail.com
