Wake up andsmell the coffee!

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Finally! I myself have been gathering people to do a video public-service announcement calling for people to wake up and realise that the Government works for us! That we elect them, our taxes pay them and we do not hold any of them accountable.

I am relieved to see that The Gleaner is stepping up and stating that there needs to be accountability and a change in the public sector where their pay/bonuses/entitlements are performance-based.

I pray that our people will come together and demand a change. If not, we are without hope.

I am, etc.,

Tara

Listen to the cries

THE EDITOR, Sir:

MY HEART was relieved when I read The Gleaner (yesterday). I realised that more people, including writers from The Gleaner, have started to become more vocal about the problems we are facing and the fact that we have to do something to save our country because our backs are against the wall.

We have to come together as a collective group in order to save our country before it is taken from us.

I am glad that some influential and respected people, such as Esther Tyson, the principal of Ardenne High School, who poured her heart out as she talked about the good, bad and the indif-ference that exist in our country, are beginning to say we need to take action.

Many realised what changes are needed, but who will bell the cat? Some people don't know where to run to or what to do, and because of this, some see the need to live in gated communities because they believe that these offer ultimate security.

Very fearful

But who wants to live like that? That's not Jamaican lifestyle. Most of us are sociable, friendly people who like to mingle and have fun, not be enclosed by walls and burglar bars. But many of us are scared and we don't know who to trust.

I am glad that more people are pouring out their frustration, which is being published by The Gleaner. This way, Government and the wrongdoers will realise that the law-abiding citizens are tired and fed up of being held captive like prisoners in their own country.

For too long we have been calling, and our cries have fallen on deaf ears. The time has come for someone to listen to the cries from the majority of the nation.

I am, etc.,

Maria Buchanan

Get youth to learn and earn

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I THINK Jamaica's biggest problem is that we are allowing so many (approximately 50 per cent) of our youth to leave school without a proper education or any skill from which they can be gainfully employed.

Many are leaving school unable to read. Most of these young people thus ill-equipped, are boys. They will need food, shelter and clothing, not only for themselves, but for partners and children who they will bring into the world. It is anybody's guess that to meet these needs, many are going to become criminals - they are hungry and angry.

For them, killing a human being to get a cellphone elicits no different a feeling to killing a mosquito. As a nation, we have to find a way to make them productive human beings. People are intelligent in different ways; not all will become scholars. We need more plumbers and carpenters, if not for Jamaica, for the overseas market.

Remittance is one of the mainstays of Jamaica. It does not, therefore, matter if we prepare these young people for employment overseas.

We have to get the Government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations to provide more skill centres in high schools and through HEART Trust/NTA. We have a structure that can work. We only need to do more. If we don't, we will need to build higher walls, install double burglar bars and still be crippled by fear.

I am, etc.,

Faithlyn Wilson

Kill our crime monster

THE EDITOR, Sir:

MY DEEPEST concern is the crime rate and the apparent inability to really nip it in the bud. People are seriously scared and want to see measures that would kill this monster plaguing our beloved country.

It cannot be business as usual. The time for serious action was the day before yesterday, but I do not believe that today is still too late. Let's take serious action now!

I am, etc.,

Karlene Mitchell

Get people involved, I say

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THIS CALL to action can really work if we take it to the people. Ordinary Jamaicans with useful ideas and contributions can participate in a Gleaner-sponsored all-island 'town hall' debate, where we share our views and solicit feedback from the populace.

The action items or plans can be put to the political directorate in whatever form is best. This would pressure members of parliament to be more responsive to the needs of their constituents, and the process could see other leaders moving to the fore. I would happily parti-cipate in such a process.

I am, etc.,

Minlaw

Change Jamaica's Constitution!

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I RECENTLY watched the Barack Obama story which, of course, included his voyage from Illinois to the White House, and it demon-strated to me, in no uncertain way, that it was time for a re-engineering of the Jamaican Constitution.

We should have a prime minister or president whose sole responsi-bility is to the people, not a party. Additionally, there should only be 14 members of parliament, excluding the prime minister or president, who is elected by the people on a separate ballot.

Ministries must be run by qualified executives employed to produce, according to the mission and vision of the entity, with six-month performance-evaluation forums, which are open-door. Ministers would then have to field questions in similar manner to directors of the board of a publicly listed company.

Ministers should concentrate on the development of their parish, similar to what is done by governors in the United States.

I am, etc.,

Edward Chin-Mook