Little value for life in Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Sir:

What exactly is 'profane, indecent or obscene' language, as described in Section 9 of the Town & Communities Act, and how, by any stretch of the imagination, can the use of such seemingly nebulous words lead to death as the penalty?

Would the production of a list of these phrases be itself classified as an 'obscene publication'? Surely, there ought to be some sort of public service announcement lest those with exceeding wroth be hauled before the courts for merely expressing their rage. That could be the cause of a terminal blood clot - I mean, aneurysm!

This is, however, not what took place in Yallahs Square, St Thomas, last weekend.

A heavily pregnant mother of two was manhandled by a policeman and then shot in the head at point-blank range because, as reports indicate, she was overheard at a bus stop uttering 'indecent language' and she then resisted arrest.

This debacle illustrates the minimal value that life is given in this country, and just how low that value can fall if you aren't fortunate enough to have the right gender, the right complexion, or the right address. It also demonstrates the brutality that results when we lose respect for human dignity and get preoccupied with protecting a system that is itself borne out of oppression.

Fifty years of Independence and we are still slaves to an anachronistic regime.

BRIAN-PAUL N. WELSH

brianpaul.welsh@gmail.com