The Editor, Sir,

Due to Gustav, the deadline for written submissions on the topic of direct abortion, which is the deliberate expulsion and/or killing of an unborn child anywhere from conception to birth, to the Clerk to the Houses, Houses of Parliament, should be extended.

I have not heard anything from the chairman of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Abortion (JSCPA), Rudyard Spencer, but I think that a deadline occurring at the same date as a widespread, fatal, natural disaster needs rescheduling. I expect the publication of a new date.

Our writing abilities

Written submissions to the JSCPA are being used to gather views on the legalisation of direct abortion. How many Jamaicans does Minister Spencer think will be able to use writing to express themselves coherently? According to Ralph Thompson in Education 2020 published by The Gleaner on April 8, the results of the 2007 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) when based on the total Jamaican grade 11 cohort says that only 29.1 per cent of our youths in fifth form in 2007 passed the CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) in English.

Problematic

Does this reflect the writing abilities of the wider society? Public consultations in every parish would be more inclusive. Researchers know that written responses to a survey are problematic with populations who have literacy problems - Fraenkel and Wallen (2006) 'How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education'.

This push for public consultations is not an oath to democracy for "Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it." - William Penn. Through public consultations it is hoped that an attitude of examining the means of direct abortion will be forthcoming; and this, when done properly, will show up all direct abortions as grave wrongs that no goal can hide.

I am, etc.,

ROMAIN G. STEWART

Mandeville

romainstewart@inbox.com