The Soloist, Contributor

Oono see mi dying trial? There was recent talk that the use of patois is not allowed in parliament.

Well, I think this is nonsense; I don't care whether or not they speak standard English in parliament. My concern is that they start using their brains in that honourable House because they seem to check them in at the door upon entry. Seriously though, people, we have to find more important issues to focus on. And they need to stop all this waste of time paying tribute to dead people. Why not print these tributes and publish them online or through social media?

Stupid/greedy/gullible

I don't know about you all, but I don't think the lottery scam will go away until all concerned stop burying their heads in the sand. So, my simple solution is that rather than spend millions on damage control after the fact, our officials need to sit with their equals in the great United States of America, and work it out. We need to tell them to do a major education campaign as soon as possible. Their citizens are either greedy, gullible or plain stupid!

First, ask your gullible citizens how on earth they could expect to win money if they did not buy a ticket? And if someone says that it was a raffle of sorts, why not simply tell them to deduct their portion and then send you the rest? I have elderly relatives living all over the US who have received these 'jackpot' calls, and guess what? They have told these callers to take a hike.

The US officials must start telling their citizens to call the police if and when these calls come. If they persist, do what I do. Yes, I have received the calls and emails telling me about my millions in winnings. But because I was taught that I cannot reap what I did not sow, I simply respond with so much bad words your eyelashes would develop a permanent curl. Then follow up with threats that are so ominous, I could be jailed for life for them, but I have not received anymore calls. Come on people, where are your brains?

Jamaicans are among the smartest people in the world. We do things better than most people and that includes criminal acts. If we are blocked, we don't stop until we find ways to remove those blocks. So, when you encounter a Jamaican criminal whose intent is to let you part company with your money ... RUN! Or, how about trying this conversation the next time you get a call: "Really? I won the lottery,".... "What a coincidence, my records show that you have won one too and I was just about to call you. Tell you what, why not deduct your fees and send me the rest and when I get your money, I will do the same."

Finally ... Yes Madam Information Minister, I agree with you, all political parties failed to act from way back when (I believe 2004 in Mobay). People were murdered and it was talked to death many times. But that donkey gone through the gate long time, so stop the blame game. It's the same way we saw the writing on the wall with the organisers of the Ponzi schemes, and did nothing till we are now wasting money to try them in court.

What we need to do now is find ways to let all concerned this time shoulder their portion of the responsibility rather than everyone socking it to bad old Jamaica again.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com