Not changing? think againIn a United States presidential campaigna few years ago, Democratic candidate Gary Hart earned a reputation in the media as a skirt-chaser. He vehemently denied this and dared the media to unfrock him. He then went on a trip to the Bahamas with a shapely lady and was photographed doing so.
But he compounded the dare by posing beside the boat whose name was 'Monkey Business'. Needless to say, his political fortunes plummeted thereafter.
The moral of the story is: Be careful how you dare people to do something. After 18 years in power, not even the most partisan observer would deny that Jamaican voters want a change. Clearly, the issue in the imminent election is whether they want a change to Bruce Golding and the JLP.
In that political environment, for an incumbent government to declare that it is "not changing course" may not exactly be the equivalent of a Gary Hart daring the voters to throw him out, but it is certainly high-wire political brinkmanship.
The smart guys (and girls) in the PNP may want to rethink that slogan ... fast.
- Errol Townsend
ewat@rogers.com
Scarborough, Ontario
Jamaica's loss, Cayman's gainIt was my great pleasure to attend the inaugural Golden Apple Awards for teaching excellence in Grand Cayman on June 23 and to observe Mrs. June South-Robinson, former principal of Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory School in Kingston, among eight educators (from a field of 160 plus nominees) being honoured.
It is scandalous that Mrs. South-Robinson had to go elsewhere to be recognised, in less than two years of her arrival, for the strong, moral, loving, talented and highly-gifted educator she is. I was also informed that she is also the Cayman National Gallery Artist of the Month.
- Ayanna Meek
ayannameek@yahoo.com
Brooklyn, NY
New Spanish invasion?I wonder how many Jamaicans see that we are subtly handing over the island to Spain?
In the interest of development, we are handing over ourproperties and our beaches and our people. Many Jamaicans of the next generation will have no access to our best beaches, for they will all be under the control of the rich tourists and we will stand outside the gates. Our only involvement will be to provide service.
It is with a sense of deep sadness that I look at Winnifred's Beach, Portland. I watch the residents of the community enjoying what is one of the best beaches in the island and know that if the UDC has its way, they will no longer enjoy it.
I fail to understand why this island and its people are being denied the blessings of their land. All over the world, colonisation has wrested the land from the natives. We do it in reverse. We are the ones giving up our land to foreigners.
- Doreen McLeod- BramwellPort Antonio
