Isn't this child labour?

A few years ago there was a great hue and cry from members of the public re Kareem 'QQ' Dawkins' career as an entertainer. The contention was that he was a child and that his working amounted to child labour.

At the time, he was 'working' with the consent of at least one parent and his schoolwork was not being adversely affected to the best of our knowledge.

It is possible that we don't have all the facts, but aren't there many child stars with careers in America?

These days, at traffic lights in the Corporate Area, on any given day, children are seen wiping windscreens and soliciting money. Check the markets on a Friday and Saturday and you are bound to see children as young as six years old selling items like matches and scallions. Why is it that we don't see the goodly and well-thinking folks who were so concerned with the case of QQ making their voices heard in these other cases?

- Robert Mitchell

mitcib@yahoo.ca

Remembering Ray Hadeed

I was really moved after reading the tributes to and remembrance of Ray Hadeed in the Gleaner of April 24. It was very touching to see how members of his team from a cross section of organisations felt about him - as a man who was kind, a teacher, one who listened, a good boss and most of all a boss who would admit when he was wrong.

If we had more bosses in Jamaica who would spend the time to listen, who cared about their employees' well-being, one who would take the time to communicate with their workers at all levels, to guide some of these workers and teach them the right way, I am sure Jamaica would be a more economically viable place to live and work. Employees would be willing to give of their best, be more dedicated to their work and thereby increase productivity in their workplace.

- Jillian Cameron

jilliancam@hotmail.com

A luxury tax?

I think the government needs to impose a luxury tax - for cars (SUVs included) and large houses with small number of occupants. If one can afford to 'role high', then one should not have a problem paying a little extra for the good of the country.

- Howard Dawkins

dawkinshoward@yahoo.com

Feeling the pain

There should be no compromise on the issue of teachers demaning that their retroactive money be paid. How does the government reconcile its claim when money was found to cover expenses for a by-election?

One can understand the freezing of wages and the delay in paying the seven per cent increase, but I will not and cannot accept teachers not being paid their retroactive salaries. If the money can be paid in May and June, why not now? I am deeply distressed as I have my school fee to pay for the master's programme I am currently enrolled in. What should I tell the bursar at the university, 'hold strain until ...'?.

- Carine Dave

raindearjam@yahoo.com