LETTER OF THE DAY - Salute police, nurses and teachers

THE EDITOR, Sir:

NOT TOO long ago the government was at loggerheads with three groups of public-sector workers who, over the past weeks, have given yeoman service in support of this nation, for which we are deeply indebted.

The police have the government currently before the courts in trying to get it to pay them their contractually due seven percentage increase after the government froze all public-sector workers' salary, which includes them forgoing their due increase. The police even took industrial action in the form of a 'sick out'. Despite this, they have been at the forefront and on the front line in defence of every person in Jamaica and the rule of law in this our island home.

Nurses were the next set of public-sector workers who took great flak from the government and, at some point, from many citizens who thought that they were being unfair and too demanding on the state.

Call of duty

Their president, Edith Allwood-Anderson, was disrespected by a minister of government, and nurses, too, had to take industrial action to try and press home their request for reclassification and retroactive monies owed to them by the government. This animosity and stand-off came to a halt as the country needed the nurses; they answered the call of duty with valour and distinction.

I watched on television as two nurses walked along a quiet, deserted street, and only the sounds of gunfire broke the silence, hugging each other, heading to the Kingston Public Hospital to report for duties. I felt a sense of pride to know that these nurses were braving it to work despite the dangers and possible peril that could befall them to report for their duties. All in an effort to save lives and render assistance to the sick, injured and dying. We also witnessed the rare sight of the minister of health and the president of the nurses' association in very cordial and civilised conversation and united for the greater good.

The final group of public-sector workers who were at odds with the government were the teachers; they were only just a few weeks ago undertaking industrial action and were ordered by the Industrial Dispute Tribunal not to take a further planned industrial action. However, in the days of the Tivoli incursion and ensuing upheaval, the teachers were called on to go out to the schools to administer the sitting of the external examinations.

How ironic it is that the three groups of workers who were in disputes with the government were the very ones who did this yeoman service now. They went above and beyond the call of duty in discharging their duties while most of us were in the safety of our homes. Police, nurses and teachers, we salute you and we hail your hard work under trying, dangerous and life-threatening situations. We thank you. This does not trivialise the work of the soldiers. I was just looking at these three groups that were at odds with the government, but we also salute you for your Herculean service to us as a nation. We salute you all. God speed.

I am, etc.,

Craig 'Cayote' Francis

St Catherine