Delroy Chuck
The dreadful conditions at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and the Victoria Jubilee maternity ward (VJ) are symptomatic of a nation in distress - declining, disintegrating and drifting. No government that professes how it loves poor people could allow health care the education of our children and the justice system to fall into such disrepair or it is a contemptuous demonstration and disregard for the people. Then, instead of taking immediate action to correct the horrible state of affairs, our dear beloved Prime Minister orders another probe - to do what?
We don't need another probe to know what is happening at the KPH and VJ, just a simple visit to any of these institutions would reveal the appalling conditions. Long ago, I brought to the nation's attention that nine or more of the x-ray machines are either completely out of use or work occasionally - to date, nothing has been done. The lack of medicine, sterilising equipment and basic resources along with the filthy and unhealthy surroundings in our nation's largest health facilities make a mockery of a government that declares and preaches it cares. Madam PM, the KPH and VJ are in decline for the simple reason they have been starved of needed resources. These institutions, like many other health institutions, Madam PM, do not need another probe - they need rescuing.
If the conditions at our hospitals were not bad enough, check out our educational institutions, where the levels of literacy, mathematical and reasoning skills continue to plunge. Earlier this year, when the GSAT results were late, Madam PM ordered a probe - what are the results? Now, in the Sunday Gleaner, Dr. Ralph Thompson shows once again
the decline in our CXC results. Justifiably, Dr. Thompson has called for a state of emergency in our secondary school system, where the non-traditional and technical schools are obviously failing our students and delivering non-certified graduates. Urgently, our schools and students need rescuing.
Nothing worthwhile
The PM, on her inauguration, promised priority for the upholding of human rights and the dignity of our people. Nothing worthwhile has happened. Yet, she will argue that a probe was ordered when a woman was abused in Half-Way Tree - the result of which is yet to be revealed. Sadly, human rights abuses and police shootings and killings continue unabated. About a month ago, I had to be in Bull Bay to quell a community demonstration protesting an alleged police killing - to date, nothing has come of the investigation. On Monday morning, I listened to MP Sharon Hay-Webster complaining about the injustice and unprofessional conduct of renegade members of the police force during a weekend operation in De la Vega City. How long must the people continue to cry out for justice? Human rights organisations and the Opposition have stood steadfastly in condemning the decline and disintegration of our justice system, the continuing human rights abuses and lack of respect and human dignity for the poor who
suffer most from the continuing injustice. Once again, our justice
system is being probed and examined, as I understand it, to
formulate a comprehensive plan to rescue it from its present malaise, decline and ineptitude.
Actually, everything needs rescuing. Despite the immense popularity and goodwill of the present PM, nothing has changed and seems likely to change, as Portia Simpson Miller lacks leadership skills. No amount of hugging, kissing and splendid smiles can compensate for the hard, compelling, and unpopular decisions that can change the disastrous course of a nation heading into the unfathomable abyss. A rudderless, uncaring and incompetent government can only profile when the country needs strong leadership and insightful management. Jamaica needs to be rescued and provided with leaders who have the will, vision and management skills to give our people hope, resources and a better tomorrow.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
