Issue:Unparliamentary behaviour
Published:Saturday | July 7, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Divisive, quarrelsome MPs a disgrace to Jamaica
THE EDITOR, Sir:
We have always been told that the police are a reflection of our society, and that the violent lyrics of our disc jockeys are also a reflection of our society. But if the Parliament is a reflection of us, the mirror is broken, not cracked.
The subliminal signals being sent by partisan advertisements in this our golden jubilee are vulgar and divisive. Our ability to be divisive and quarrelsome is shameful. Not only are the new members of parliament young, but they are inexperienced. Maybe we can, or should, use some of the money allotted for the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme to train them.
We know that parliamentary debates must have the cut and thrust that electrify us, but the Jamaican Parliament has been consistently denigrated. The messages sent to our children, especially, are disgraceful and undisciplined, as we attempt to shape their young minds.
Whether fish, fowl or gentleman, our Parliament is a mixture of all sorts, and so it should be. 'Out of Many, One People'. The Jamaican Parliament has sunken to a new low, if that is possible. It is arguable that had the marshal stood beside Mr Everald Warmington, instead of Mr J.C. Hutchinson, they would have come to blows.
You can 'tun up the ting', but don't 'tun it up till yu bun it up'.
MARK CLARKE
Siloah PO, St Elizabeth