No to shreddingIn the midst of congratulating the government on its well deserved victory, I am saddened to see a practice circumscribed by the courts here in America put in place in Jamaica by the defeated Government - the shredding of governmental documents.
As a historian and a researcher in public policies and also someone who wants to preserve our culture and practices, I can only say it is an act that borders on barbarity; it is the destruction of a people's memories.
I realise that in the game of politics, there are going to be practices indulged in by some persons that make them defensive and then resort to the worst practices to blot out our knowledge of their mistakes. However, I am calling upon the Prime Minister to ensure whether by the Constitution or by law that this does not become the refuge of cowards and practitioners of denial.
As one voice crying in the wilderness, I ask him to be a protector of those tangibles in documents and intangibles in practice on which rest our children's knowledge of how best we strove when we were placed by people's confidence upon the stage of history.
- Middleton Wilson, middletonwilson@bellsouth.net, Miami, Fl.,Via Go-Jamaica
Not the capitalI am compelled to respond to a letter written to the Editor on September 11, 2007. The writer claims that Jamaica is known abroad as the'murder capital of the world'.
This is plainly not the truth. Yes the crime rate is alarming, health care must be improved and the education system must be taken seriously if we are serious about being globally competitive. These challenges should not only be the sole focus of the elected, but all Jamaicans.
Our values must shift. Let us focus on the restoration of high moral values, great pride in our rich heritage of hard work and most importantly, seeking God's direction for all that we do.
Jamaica is indeed not the murder capital of the world, the reporter who reports that is obviously misdirected. This writer, however, must admit that the report of a murder is not good for Jamaica and we must address the crime rate urgently.
- Sharon Young-White, white-norma@sbcglobal.net, Harvey, IL, Via Go-Jamaica
DeportationsCongratulations to the JLP on their victory. I am up for anyone that is going to make good changes in Jamaica. My main concern however, is the Prime Minister's take on deportation.
If we as Jamaicans don't see it as a major concern, then we need to open our eyes. What is Mr. Golding going to do with the deportees that we receive from America, England, and Canada, especially the ones that have lived in another country most of their lives and now these countries want to dump their mess on the little island of Jamaica? I would love to know our leader's take on deportation, because most of these people have nowhere to go and Jamaica has nowhere to put them.
- Kadia Williams, kwilliams@blsadvisors.com, Plainfield, NJ, Via Go-Jamaica
