Don't disenfranchise people
Published:Friday | June 18, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
HERE WE go again, another Jamaican suggesting that some Jamaicans should not enjoy the privilege of electing their representative in Parliament. I am also surprised it got letter of the day for June 17.
In general, how do you determine if an adult cannot care for himself or herself? Additionally, it may be important to note that not everyone has a job or is able to find a job. The suggestion in this letter is pretty much saying that if a person has been searching but was unable to find a job, and whose spouse is the person on account at the utility company and at the tax office, then tough luck, that person would not be able to vote. What rubbish!
On the issue of "capture-land communities", my question is: Who allowed these communities to be formed? These communities are not formed overnight and it is the inability of the government of Jamaica to deal with people squatting on state or other people's land that led to the problem of capture-land communities. So again, let us not penalise a Jamaican for the incompetence of his/her government.
It is letters like these that highlight the immense disrespect of Jamaican people, not by anyone else, but other Jamaicans.
Blame the state
I would like to say that there are ways of dealing with a country's problems without creating deliberate hardship or disenfranchising citizens. Additionally, it is wrong to blame people for the incompetence of some of the country's politicians who have not governed Jamaica in the best interest of its citizens. The State has failed miserably to provide opportunity and security for its citizens. And it for these reasons that dons, strongmen and garrisons are born.
I would also like to add that allowing the security forces to march into a community and march out leaving innocent people dead is not a solution either.
I am, etc.,
Audley Gilpin Jr