The Editor, Sir:

As I meditated on the Emancipation Day celebration, my thoughts focused on a few things, including the meaning of the word emancipation. The Oxford Dictionary says 'free from legal, social, political, intellectual or moral restraint'. So theoretically we are supposed to be free - free from what or whom and free to do what to whom. I therefore ask myself and my fellow Jamaicans a few questions.

Are we free from politicians who continue to spout filth and division, hatred and sometimes disgust from the political platform? In my 64 years, I have never heard so much filth and hatred from our leaders to one another and their fellow Jamaican citizens who should be free to go wherever they choose and in whatever colour garment they feel like wearing.

Are we free and able to receive a proper education from basic to secondary - above that is our choice - and if we so desire, is it readily accessible?

Best health care

Are we free to receive the best possible health care, whether we are rich or poor, e.g. kidney patients are not always able to receive dialysis treatment and children with heart defects are unable to get surgery.

Are we free to walk, ride or drive on our roads and not be subject to drivers from all walks of life trying to bore and run us off the roads?

Are business people free to compete for contracts in an open and transparent process? The question of corruption can now be addressed and I put it this way. Can there be corrupt politicians without a corrupt private sector? Private companies struggle with corruption between their own walls on a daily basis. This struggle for money is at the root of all our problems. Free citizens of this lovely land are unable to access a decent life because they are constantly struggling to earn, beg, borrow or steal the dollars that they need to put food on their tables, to obtain proper clothing and proper and affordable housing, proper education, health care and transportation. Mr. Editor, our children are doomed because our adults continue to be caught up in the corrupt practices that are stalling progress in our land.

Such a waste

Sir, how in heaven's name and by what process did we arrive at the ridiculous salary of approximately $70 million per year plus perks, I presume, for one football coach and the millions spent on so-called cricket stadiums? How many lives could that money have saved?

Mr. Editor, my final question: Is our society so corrupt that our churches are silent, our business people - Chamber of Commerce are silent. Is anyone willing to face the truth? We are now living in a country that has reached new lows.

My fellow Jamaicans, you will not be free, you will never be emancipated until the guns are put down, the drugs are removed and we free ourselves of corruption and political thuggery.

I am, etc,

HERBERT GAUNTLETT

hshaggyg@yahoo.com

Kingston 8

Via Go-Jamaica