THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS the legal responsibility of Government to officially sanction the names and boundaries of geographic areas, residential communities, roads, streets and lanes throughout Jamaica.
It appears, however, that this civic responsibility has been totally neglected over the years of anarchic behaviour of the populace. Various individuals and groups have taken over this function.
We need to be reminded that no individual, group or institution, except authorised by government, has the legal right to name or rename streets, communities or other places as they wish. This is, therefore, my call for a return to civic governance in the land.
The time is now right to address this neglect, and I strongly recommend the following:
* Revive and publicise organs of responsibility for the task.
* Issue public notices of the plan to return to civility in all communities.
* Remove all unauthorised signs, banners, graffiti or other unofficial indicators of alien names of streets and communities throughout the island and state the penalties for reinstating them.
* Remove all roadblocks, unofficial border indicators and debris from all communities (be they inner-city, outer-city, or anywhere else).
* Name or rename all streets and lanes and erect positional and directional signs nationally.
One final note - the Seventh-day Adventists should be commended for their continued efforts in identifying by appropriate signage, so many communities throughout the island. They are so helpful when you visit unfamiliar places.
I nominate them for national recognition and institutional reward.
I am, etc.,
HARVEY G. WILLIS
P.O. Box 317
Spanish Town P.O.
