Dear Editor,

A generation that had castor oil forced down its throat by parents will have a better appreciation of the efficacy of the state of emergency. It tastes bad. But it works. Jamaica has been in a state of emergency for years, but also in deep denial. A dithering PM Bruce Golding was left with no choice but to begin the cauterisation of the criminality and lawlessness. The real danger now is that Golding reverts to character too soon, gets soft, backs off… and the harsh medicine and bloodshed will have been in vain. As an Opposition MP has pleaded, the state of emergency must be extended to St Catherine. Also beyond the one-month to allow the security forces to finish the job. Only when that’s done will it be time to return to democratic norms.

Consensus is desirable, but Mr Golding was elected to govern and commands a majority in Parliament. He has no excuse. This crisis is too good an opportunity to be wasted. Faced with a takeover of the state by gunmen, the bleeding hearts and human rights fundamentalists have now “found religion”, but will quickly backslide; as for the bashful virgins, shrinking violets and legal luminaries on the Opposition benches, they need to chill. In silence they should stiffen their backbones by absorbing the harsh but relevant dissertation on the “broken skulls” theory from that great nationalist Wills O Isaacs, on whose broad shoulders they are now privileged to sit.

Errol WA Townshend

Canada

ewat@rogers.com