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Published: Wednesday | June 6, 2012 12 Comments
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I was very cross to hear Andrew Holness, in his Budget presentation of May 31, 2012, say the Opposition will not support immediate efforts to remove the Queen of England as head of our country, nor support efforts to develop the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) unless poverty can be alleviated.
I think that this is a ridiculous statement. It is this type of attitude that is blocking growth and development in the Caribbean.
So many of the decisions taken by the largely male leadership in the Caribbean stunts the growth of our nations, but somehow leaders don't seem to see this.
In my view, it really would be helpful if leadership in Jamaica not use tit-for-tat and strong-arm tactics to prevent advancement and progress. I think that it is a disgrace that our people swear allegiance to the Queen and her descendants. These people are the beneficiaries of the legacy where their ancestors massacred our ancestors by the millions during enslavement, colonialism and other forms of racist terrorism.
They also hold the legacy of developing racist systems to hurt, degrade and harm black people. To this day, the Queen and her descendants have done nothing to correct or apologise for these crimes against African humanity, from which she and Europeans as a whole benefited.
I am, therefore, disgusted by Mr Holness' utterances about blocking efforts to remove the Queen as head of state.
The removal of the Queen and the demand for reparative justice should be an urgent priority for any self-respecting nation which holds the memory of its ancestors dear.
Regarding the CCJ, our country should become independent of those who formerly enslaved us. We surely, by this time in our growth and development, can manage our legal affairs ourselves and make our own decisions.
Leadership in Jamaica and across the Caribbean should be about educating the population about why these matters are important to our development, instead of fighting against each other and being petty and small-minded.
So, Mr Holness, rethink your position. Do not oppose just for the sake of it and to score petty points.
NZINGHA ASSATA
anzingha@hotmail.com
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I was very cross to hear Andrew Holness, in his Budget presentation of May 31, 2012, say the Opposition will not support immediate efforts to remove the Queen of England as head of our country, nor support efforts to develop the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) unless poverty can be alleviated.
I think that this is a ridiculous statement. It is this type of attitude that is blocking growth and development in the Caribbean.
So many of the decisions taken by the largely male leadership in the Caribbean stunts the growth of our nations, but somehow leaders don't seem to see this.
In my view, it really would be helpful if leadership in Jamaica not use tit-for-tat and strong-arm tactics to prevent advancement and progress. I think that it is a disgrace that our people swear allegiance to the Queen and her descendants. These people are the beneficiaries of the legacy where their ancestors massacred our ancestors by the millions during enslavement, colonialism and other forms of racist terrorism.
They also hold the legacy of developing racist systems to hurt, degrade and harm black people. To this day, the Queen and her descendants have done nothing to correct or apologise for these crimes against African humanity, from which she and Europeans as a whole benefited.
I am, therefore, disgusted by Mr Holness' utterances about blocking efforts to remove the Queen as head of state.
The removal of the Queen and the demand for reparative justice should be an urgent priority for any self-respecting nation which holds the memory of its ancestors dear.
Regarding the CCJ, our country should become independent of those who formerly enslaved us. We surely, by this time in our growth and development, can manage our legal affairs ourselves and make our own decisions.
Leadership in Jamaica and across the Caribbean should be about educating the population about why these matters are important to our development, instead of fighting against each other and being petty and small-minded.
So, Mr Holness, rethink your position. Do not oppose just for the sake of it and to score petty points.
NZINGHA ASSATA
anzingha@hotmail.com
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