THE EDITOR, Sir:
HAVING WITNESSED on both major television stations reports of a massive fire that took place on Ricketts Avenue in Maxfield Park, recently I am quite annoyed with the behaviour of some victims as they cry out for help. It is not that I do not empathise with their losses, but time after time these victims act as if the rest of Jamaica owes them some eternal debt.
I pity the Member of Parliament, Dr. Peter Phillips, of whom one woman demanded: "Wi nuh waan nuh moh board house, a block house him affi gi wi." I am always amazed to see the large numbers of persons, particularly children, who are left homeless after these events. Why must these people have so many children and cram them in such confined spaces called houses?
I believe it is high time that the Government and its agencies come forward and make some bold statement and directives to the nation. Primarily, there should be a public education campaign to let the less fortunate among us know that they cannot be allowed to wantonly have children and expect the rest of us to care for them. Greater efforts should be made through the National Family Planning Board to promote stringent birth control practices in these areas and dispel some of the myths surrounding child-bearing.
There should be proper monitoring of the development of these 'communities' within communities by the K.S.A.C. and other Parish Councils to cover issues like electrical wiring, fire prevention and health standards, such as toilet facilities and garbage collection.
'LIP SERVICE'
Tackling corruption in Govern-ment and the private sector should not only be via 'lip service' but tangible and equitable means. The virtues of hard work and a proper work ethic should be highlighted wherein the true workers are seen as heroes and not some don or gibberish-talking deejay. While we are at it some focus could be put on the age-old problem of 'street children' at stop lights begging and attempting to abuse us physically and verbally when their demands are not met.
We can correct our present problems all we need is the will to do the necessary things as the greatest challenge being faced is that of changing the psyche of those of us who believe 'govament' or 'bigman' owe them.
I am, etc.,
DUDLEY I.H.
MCFARLANE
P.O. Box 129
Kingston 20
