TT a jungle in 2020
THE EDITOR: When I read the newspapers and watch the news on TV, I have to wonder whether this is the same country that I was born and grew up in, the once tranquil and peaceful land in which everyone was free to go about their business freely and without fear of being killed, kidnapped or robbed at a moment’s notice. A land in which even the elements were kinder with the occasional thunder-storm during the rainy season, a slight earth tremor on the odd occasion and severe flooding was not heard of even in the central part of the country. A time when neighbours always exchanged cheerful greetings to each other and usually exchanged fruit or homemade delicacies. Each kept an eye on the children while neighbour went to the village shop to buy some goods, frequently on credit and with no complaint from the shop-keeper who knew everybody by name. The only mention of any serious criminals was in the 30’s when two prisoners escaped from Carrera Island prison and swam across to the mainland, "Bango" and "Castillo" were their names and many people were locking their doors which were previously left open while these two roamed the country at large. Well, times have surely changed, most people do not even know who their next door neighbour is. Good morning has gone out of style and lending a helping hand is a thing of the past. Discourtesy and violence are the order of the day and even suspicion and hate seem to have taken hold of the majority of citizens. Where windows and doors were once left open and unlocked, they are now fitted with double and triple locks, expensive alarm systems and barred with wrought iron, forcing peace-keeping citizens to live in cages while criminals have infested the country and continuously terrorise the defenseless citizens. What is even more frightening is the police who are supposed to protect and serve are now firing shots over the heads of protesters, spraying them with tear gas and using rubber bullets to shoot them with, when we are all very well aware that absolutely nothing is done by the inept, incompetent government that seems totally paralyzed into a state of inaction, except after loud and persistent protest. Meanwhile, my firm advice to every citizen that can afford it, is to pack your bags and seek greener and cleaner pastures elsewhere, especially those who have young ones to think of. At the rate that this country is travelling in the wrong direction, by the year 2020 it will have become a jungle neither fit for man nor beast. Unfortunately I am neither young enough, rich enough to depart these shores but then, by 2020 I will surely have completed my mission on earth and hopefully moved on to better things. MARTIN KAVANAGH La Romaine
Comments
"TT a jungle in 2020"