LETTER OF THE DAY - I support Crawford as he bats for education
Published:Thursday | September 13, 2012 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
EDUCATION IS a key that can open many doors. One such door is the one that alleviates the state of poverty that stifles and suffocates the potential of many of our brilliant youths who can't afford it.
In this, I support MP Damion Crawford. It is time to stamp out the mentality of begging for a temporary solution to any of our problems. While a voucher might pay for a child's book, school supplies, or even a suit of uniform, what about the needs of tomorrow? If MP Crawford is working to implement programmes that will benefit the masses and not one individual; if his programmes are going to provide tools and education for both child and mother; if his programmes are going to allow a mother or father to earn so they don't have to be dependent on insufficient funds from vouchers, why not support him?
Jamaicans, both those who fall below the poverty line and are marginally above it, need to emancipate themselves/ourselves from mental 'begging' slavery.
Education, youth and employment programmes are some of the best tools that can be used to transform an entire community, to change their destiny and rewrite history. Other members of parliament should follow his example and develop and implement initiatives that uplift their constituents and not cause their demise - directly or indirectly.
We are in the year 2012 and this time 'People Power' should be literal and not a fantasy. Empower the young and the older folks. Empower the poorer class and the working class. Facilitate, educate and emancipate; begin a new thing for Jamaica 50.
Poetess Denise N. Fyffe