THE GLEANER, MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com A5 [LETTER OF THE DAY] The Gleaner [EDITORIAL] OPINION #GLNROPED The opinions on this page, except for The Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gleaner. LETTERS The Gleaner welcomes your views on any issue. Preference will be given to letters of 300 words or less. They must bear the writer’s name, address and telephone contact. If using a pen name, you must state your full name. Your name and address will be withheld on request. EMAIL US: letters@gleanerjm.com or WRITE US: Editor, The Gleaner Company (Media) Ltd, 7 North Street, PO Box 40, Kingston, or fax: (876)922-6223 WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? South Korea to impose sanctions against Belarus for supporting Russia SEOUL (ANI): South Korea has said it will impose export controls against Belarus for its support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to CNN. The foreign affairs ministry of South Korea said that the export control will be similar to the one it earlier imposed on Moscow. In February, South Korea blocked exports of strategic goods to Russia. “Our government ... decided today to implement export control against Belarus under the judgement that Belarus is practically supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the ministry said. THE UNITED States Agency for International Development (USAID) attained the ripeoldage of 60 in November 2021. Founded by the late former president, John F. Kennedy, the agency was designed as one of the most important tools of US international engagement, with its centralmission to expand free-market democracies, therebymaking the US secure and prosperous. Over sixdecades, theagencyhasbuilt a reputationas a leader in international aid, saving lives fromtuberculosis, smallpox,malaria, HIV/AIDS, anddeliveringhumanitarian aid on a huge scale. The USAID is currently working in 100 countries through teams and partners to develop and support live-saving projects, reduce poverty, and drive social development. Anniversaries are ripe for reflection, and USAID Jamaica Country Representative Jason Fraser outlined to this newspaper how the agency investedmore than US$1.4 billion to support various projects in Jamaica, ranging fromenvironment to health, energy resilience, and education. The effectiveness of development aid and donor dollars is a hotly debated topic among intellectuals, researchers and aid experts, who often question the role of aid in nation-building. Fierce arguments are tendered on both sides of the debate. On one hand, critics say targetedaiddollars can contribute topoverty alleviation, depending on how the funds are allocated andmanaged. Others argue that foreignaid is ineffective, perpetuates poverty, and fails tomeet its goals because of misallocation of resources, corruption, and poor governance. Mr Fraser seems to answer concerns about misallocation of funds when he said the agency engages in extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders before any strategy is generated, as the programmesmustmatchwhat Jamaicans want for themselves, as laid out in their Vision 2030 plan. POVERTY ALLEVIATION If poverty alleviation is the ultimate goal of development aid, thenone isobliged toask thequestion: Howmanypeoplehavebeen liftedout of povertyby the USAID in its nearly 60 years of engagement in Jamaica? The official poverty rate in 2020 was 11.4 per cent, which is a percentage point above the previous year. COVID-19 was responsible for reversing pre-pandemic poverty declines for five consecutive years. The more people who are lifted out of poverty, the more the country benefits as a whole. Think of the reduction in criminal activities such as scamming, gunrunning and gang operations. In 2015, when the 193 countries adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations General Assembly, they set about crafting a blueprint with targets to achieve a better future for all of mankind by 2030. No one contemplated having to manage the challenges of a global pandemic. There was no built-in contingency to cope with the impact of adeadly, sustainedhealth crisis causedby the novel coronavirus. Alongside thehealth crisis, countries like Jamaica face mounting debt service payments, looming shocks fromincreasedoil prices due to thewar inUkraine, and thepotential impact of newcoronavirus variants lurking in the shadows. These anticipated burdens may have prompted the World Bank to urge wealthy nations to come up with new debt-relief mechanisms, and to ensure that private-sector creditors arebrought alongas part of the solution. Other global institutions have also lamented that wealthy nations were not doing nearly enough to help poor nations. The pandemic has clearly reversed gains against poverty; and the picture is not rosy as many, including children, face immediate economic hardships, health risks and interrupted education. The pandemic has left most countries in a bind. If rich countries are really concerned about poverty reduction and wish to see poor countries achieve the SDGs, then swift action is necessary to refocus investments in areas that are critical to improving lives. If nothing is done, the consequences will be dire for future generations. THE EDITOR, Madam: I AM writing in response to the article published The Gleaner on Thursday, March 3, titled ‘19 years old and never gone to school’, which pained my heart. It is sad to learn of the plight of this young woman because of a disability. In this day and age of technological advancement, it is unfortunate that this has happened. I had talipes (club foot), among other issues. My parents were poor, with little education, had other children back then, and were on the brink of the ‘60s. They sought medical attention for me and followed up on my treatment and recommendations from the late Professor Sir John Golding. My parents made sure I went to the schools located at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (formerly the Mona Rehabilitation Centre), where I gained basic and primary education. The information I could gather from the story is that 19 year old JellisaWilliams is not intellectually challenged and, as such, could have gone to school, even while getting medical treatment. Parents, I implore you to be more vigilant in the care and development of your disabled child. They should be treated equally like the other children. Though late, I am encouraging Jellisa’s mother and siblings to give her the support she needs to realise her dream of becoming a telephone technician. They should also follow up on the recommendations by the Reverend Arthur Taylor, chairman of the Combined Disabilities Association, so that she can get educated, be gainfully employed, and be fully integrated in the society. LESMA COOTE THE EDITOR, Madam: This isanopen letter toJamaicaPublic Service (JPS) and National Water Commission (NWC). WHEN WILL these utilities companies take action against the levels of electricity and water theft in our country? It is now becoming overbearing and frustrating to us as consumers. We so often hear that we need to conserve. Nobody has to tell us whoarepayingcustomers todo this, because its hurts our pockets if we don’t. Butwhat about thosewhoare not paying customers?They are the ones who have no regard towards conservation. Here are some of the things that I have observed: • Lights are constantlyon, whether it is day or night. • Televisions are on right throughout the day and night. • As early as 7 a.m., loud music systems are on. They are so loud that they can be heard miles away. At times ,three or four houses are playing at the same time, with no regard for others who need a little peace and quiet. This goes on until late night. • Those with washing machines wash seven days a week. • Water pipes are left running for hours, sometimes for days. • Cars are washed two times per day. These are things that I personally see happening; this is not secondhand information. I am calling on the JPS and NWC to urgently do something more about this. This cannot be happening, then we, the paying customers, are asked to pay for this. This cannot be right. Why shouldwe, who are alreadymaking so many sacrifices, be asked to pay for these companies’inability todeal with this issue effectively? It’s not likemost of these persons whohave illegal connections cannot afford topay for these services. Take a look at what some of them wear, what they drive, and the type of houses they build.Wewant towear Kickers and Clarks, too; we want to buildnicehouses, too; wewant tobe able to treat ourselves, too, but we make the sacrifices to pay our bills. Both utility companies have a Revenue Protection Department, I am sure millions are paid to these employees in salaries to protect the company’s revenues. But are they really doing a good job? I can remember someonemakes a report about illegal connection.When they did come; the employee told these illegal customers that somebody called and reported it. Let me ask, do they owe themany explanation? I am calling on both utility companies to address this issue as soon as possible. ROY BARRETT zeldabev50@yahoo.com Stop the theft of water and electricity BusinesswomanClaudette CrooksCollie has won her latest battle against attempts by her estranged husband, a medical doctor and former politician, Dr CharltonCollie, to have a share of her $85-million home in St Andrew. Here are some readers’ reactions sourced from The Gleaner’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagrampages. “We should all be mindful that some persons are entering relationships solely to obtain a portion of the other person’s wealth. Be careful everyone. Scamming is now wearing many disguises.” – @CutieRitalia “All is vanity. When it is our time to go, we will leave all our earthly possessions behind. There is no need to fight over a big housewhen you can only sleep in one bed.Wish her well!” – @dnalor8 “Not to get a penny, move on.” – @ bridgettethefirstblackqueen “No matter how [much] in love you think you are, if you have substantial assets always insist on a prenuptial agreement!” – LaDeaneMurray-Tummings “These men weh a act like them a spend big and then wanna have d last chat. SMH. Good to hold ur own as a woman.” – @rayne_essentialonlinestore “Single life saves u from all this drama.” – @stronga_than_before “Rich people business.” – @randy.mcdonald.37 “Marriage is about greed these days.” – @kidd__saunjay “Marriage was never about love. Ya’ll don’t know unu history das y. Marriagewas about unitingwealth tomakemore wealth. It was about a generational thing. Not no love. Now you have two bruk families uniting poverty to create more poverty. That is why they fail. Becausewe don’t really understand the real purpose of marriage.” – @chanboozie “He didn’t work for it but wanna claim it! No!”– @claudia _law7910 Children with disabilities need support and care Focus on poverty THE EDITOR, Madam: SINCE THE COVID-19 pandemic hit, theworldhas suffered immeasurably. During this period, there have been outstandingmedical breakthroughs that will ensure that the way medicine is practised will never be the same. Itwas aproudmoment for the scientific community inOctober 2021 when United States (US) surgeonDr RobertMontgomery and his team successfully transplanted geneticallymodifiedpigkidneys into a human for the first time. This was followed by the first genetically modified pig heart transplant into a humanon January 11. This surgery was preformed by Dr BartleyGriffithandhis teamfrom theUniversityofMarylandSchool of Medicine. David Bennett, who was the recipient of the pig’s heart, did not qualify for a human transplant and would have died, but is alive todaybecauseof apig’s heart.While theuseof pig’s heartwill raise several ethical and religious concerns, these scientific advances should be celebrated, replicatedand improved upon in Jamaica.This revolutionwill allow patients in the future to walk into a pharmacy with prescriptions for organs, insteadofwaiting invain for a human organ. Jamaica has proven that it can produce world-class music and athletes, to name a few. The only thing preventing us from dominating medical sciences is the lack of organisation and funding. I am urging the Government to recruit biological scientists, especially medical technologists, to receive advanced training inbiotechnology in countries that are leading in biological research. After completing their studies, these students can work for the government service in laboratories equipped with the necessary machinery and reagents. If this is done consistently, the fruits of their research will ensure we have a healthier population as well as intellectual property that could finance our Budget and reduce dependence on traditional sectors. In case you think this is wishful thinking, never forget that Professor Lawrence Williams was offered $11 billion for cancer research patent for a compound in the guinea hen weed. JESSE JAMES CLARKE Junior Shadow Minister on Health andWellness clarkejesse956@gmail.com Develop medical research in Jamaica Illegal connections are seen strung to a Jamaica Public Service utility pole. FILE READERS’ REACTIONS Businesswoman wins battle to keep estranged husband out of $85m home Compiled by Khanique McDaniel
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