NOTEWORTHY
Published:Monday | July 26, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Change the law
The call by attorney-at-law, Tamika Harris ( Sunday Gleaner, July 25) for changes in the law that makes criminals of 16-year-old boys who have consensual sex with young girls is very well supported by the Office of the Children's Advocate.
This is one of the issues it has been seeking to address resulting from the Child Protection Audit of 2008. It has been recognised that many of our children are being criminalised in this way.
There is the urgent need to finalise and fully implement the National Plan of Action on Child Justice and the diversion policy which would help to address the problem of too much criminalisation of the nation's children, many of whom are crying out for parenting and guidance and are in need of care and protection.
Prioritise
It is time we really make children a priority and speedily deal with what will enhance the protection of their rights. This also includes finalisation of the Evidence (Amendment) Bill which offers more protection to victims of abuse.
Why do we take so long to deal with issues pertaining to child rights, while other pieces of legislation go through so quickly? What message is this sending?
- Mary P. Clarke
mary pat62@hotmail.com
Good article
Kudos to Kevin O'Brien Chang for a well-thought out article in yesterday's Sunday Gleaner 'Betrayed - politicians fail people again'.
The questions that the Jamaican public must ponder and for which they should seek answers:
Does your government care about you?
Is your government committed to you?
Who are the MPs working for?
Who are the MPs protecting?
What is the worth of a Jamaican life?
The Jamaican Government must remember this phrase "What you permit, you promote."
- Collin Hamden
Roper's political quest
It is with deep disappointment that I respond to Rev Garnet Roper's letter published in The Gleaner of July 23. It has become increasingly apparent to me that Mr Roper has lost his way and daily decreases in value as a pastor entrusted with the power to intercede on behalf of our nation to God.
There is a phrase, "there is none so blind as one who cannot see", that properly describes what I call "Mr. Roper's quest for political mileage" as he continues to sell the nation's safety for partisan politicking.
Mr Roper needs to shut up or get out of politics if he is to regain the trust of this nation. Politics is not where we should be focusing at this time. The criminals have signalled their return to disorder and I wonder if some of this senseless killings are not politically motivated.
Wake up, Mr Roper! Wake up, politicians! Do not play politics with Jamaicans' lives.
- Concerned Voter
Kingston