Gov't aids downtown's demise

Howard Hamilton in his Gleaner column (May 28) pleads for the floating of a government bond to spur the redevelopment of Kingston. This is a commendable recommendation, but the Government can certainly do much more than that.

Government was instrumental in bringing about the demise of downtown Kingston. By the end of the 1970s, many government offices had relocated uptown to New Kingston and its environs, and with that all the major businesses and entertainment establishments joined the exodus.

The revival of Kingston must begin with a return of government institutions. The overcrowding, traffic congestion and pollution uptown demand such a strategy.

- R. Oscar Lofters, lofters1@aol.com

Mental change needed

One does not have to go very far to realise that Jamaica is becoming spoilt as time progresses. We have fallen deep into the quagmire of insanity - the things that were once considered evil and unwelcome are now accepted as part of the norm.

We treat ourselves and our brothers and sisters with little regard so we feel that:

We have to steal from each other in order to survive

We have to kill in order to gain respect

We must conduct backdoor deals in order to get ahead of the race

We must break the law because this is the only way that our voices will be heard.

I believe that, like Bob Marley, we can free ourselves of the shackles that have been used to keep us down. Let us not look to politicians and so-called 'dons', who themselves have controlled our minds.

Let us free ourselves from within because none but ourselves can free our minds. Only when a man is truly free can he think and act civilised.

- Everton Tyndaleevat 78@hotmail.com

Distressed Jamaican in Cayman

I am a proud Jamaican working in the Cayman Islands, and it is with great distress and sorrow that I write this letter. Jamaicans living abroad need to know their place!

As I listened to the local radio here, I heard how we were all being demonised because of the behaviour of some of our people who are here on work permits, but who found it pertinent to be campaigning and behaving badly during the recently held elections. Taking part in motorcades, singing denigrating songs and making disparaging remarks are totally unacceptable. They have learned this behaviour from Jamaican politics, but why can't they let it remain there?

Unfortunately, we all have to bear the brunt of the burden when things like this happen. The point is, if foreigners were in our country behaving like this in our elections I am frightened to think of what would happen to them.

Jamaicans need to know their place and, as the radio host said, "When you are in a next man's house, you should learn to abide by their rules."

- Angeleta Wilsonangeleta@gmail.com