THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I was sitting in the Resident Magistrate's Court in Port Antonio recently, for a matter to be brought up, I had time to think and reflect on some solutions to some of the problems that affect everyone in the island.
The judge from time to time would pass sentence for various crimes committed, and while I sat and observed the process of sentencing, the judge would end his sentence with the words for example '18 months at hard labour'. Many of the men on trial were young, strong looking and seemed to have no direction in life. 'Hard labour' is not practised at Jamaican penal institutions to the best of my knowledge. In my case the young man who was sentenced had just come out of prison less than one week and sadly had to return. He was well-fed and very strong.
STIFF FINES
That same day the media reported that the KSAC needed $24 million to clean gullies. In the first place, if garbage was collected on a regular basis this problem of throwing domestic garbage and other things into gullies would not be a problem, not to mention if stiff fines were imposed and the law was enforced on those persons who think it is hip to just toss their garbage anywhere. Just check the gully that runs in the Cassava Piece area, for example, persons whose backdoor is on the edge of the gully have a pile-up of garbage that is just unbelievable. Why can't there be any charge laid against these persons?
I am suggesting that the authorities responsible for the cleaning of gullies approach the other responsible agency to have these young prisoners do some of the work. They should be dressed in orange or whatever colour they choose, with appropriate wording, and of course the usual security to watch them. At this point since the police are so stretched, I would suggest the army. This exercise would not be permanent just until the gullies are cleaned. May I suggest this be done before the rainy season is in full swing, as with the full gullies of garbage etc. with heavy rainfall ending up in the sea, we all will be eating toxic fish. Mr. Finance Minister just think of the money you could save.
Taxpayers of this country would thank you Mr. Minister for saving us 'bags of money' and at the same time it would be a form of community work. Persons seeing this kind of operation would think twice before committing a crime. Why should taxpayers feed them three times a day, they get fat, watch TV while we taxpayers have to work like crazy to keep our 'heads above water'?
I am, etc.,
GLORIA PALOMINO, J.P.
St. Andrew
