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| PM Andrew Holness |
As a nation, if we recognize persons who are not of high moral standing, this not only affects the credibility of the award, but it also sends the wrong message to the country. A nation cannot just give awards to persons because they are popular in an area and there are clouds over their heads. After awhile persons might start to think that having a cloud over your head is a pre-requisite to getting a national award.
I have seen a leader in the church who the community accused of playing around with little girls and he received the OD. This is a church leader who adopted children saying that he was taking care of them but persons believed otherwise. It is a pity that at my age then, I did not realize the seriousness of what was happening.
We have had a leader who was convicted and charged for more than one offence getting a national award! Another individual getting an OJ and the stories going around about that person cannot be repeated on this page.
Social media is now abuzz with the interesting news about a Jamaican who has received a diplomatic passport. Read this Jamaica Observer article and you will see some names that might be linked to person who are known internationally. These persons are not convicted of a crime but the story is very interesting - Jamaica Observer article.
There are also stories going around about persons who it is alleged sit on government boards and get sweet heart deals. Some Jamaicans are saying that these persons have top level connections - Jamaica Gleaner.
The challenge is when public servants or other citizens do anything such as even stealing some ackees they are taken in her Majesty's limousine to one of her hotels were the await trials which could end up in an extend stay at the hotel. Others high up are just asked to just step down.
I write this piece not because I want to tear down the government, but because I want my country to succeed and there is too much debris floating on our national waters. It must be cleaned up now or else we will be in big trouble. If it is cleaned up now, then the nation will sigh a sigh of relieve. These things have been going on for too many years. The problem is, Jamaicans don't really seem to care! In reacting to an official who got arrested for I believe misappropriation of funds, Jamaicans said, "Dat dey man fool sah, 'im no know how fi tief".
Other Readings:
I find your post somewhat one shoe fits all approach. I will agree with that persons receiving a national award should be an up standing citizen, however we part company when you started to mention, persons accused. Being accused should that disqualify a person? Maybe one recommendation could be, that the individuals recommendation be put on hold until the matter is over. One size does not fit all. The devil is in the details.
ReplyDeleteSee the bigger picture and that is only reputable persons should be honoured. It follows naturally that if you are accused then the award is put on hold. Put on hold means that you do not get the award until the matter is cleared up. That sounds like we are singing from the same hymnal!
DeleteAs far as I'm concerne it's the people for this time of Covid it's those hard-working people such as the healthcare workers,police and others who are on the front line day after day should be getting awards this year. Nobody else.Others should stay until another time
ReplyDeleteWhat a solid point to make!
ReplyDeleteTo be accused of a crime doesn't make one guilty of a crime. Rumours destroy people and that is the intention of rumors
ReplyDeleteTo be freed of a crime means that the state has not found you guilty. If you know that you are guilty then you are. I am not sure of the point that you are making though.
DeleteRumours can destroy a persons character but when persons have done certain things and because of the system that we have they have never been brought to book and it is not very easy to convict them in Jamaica then there is more to it. Some only get convicted when they are taken overseas. We live in Jamaica and enough of us know what is going on. What we tend to do is put political labels on some of these things and we leave it like that.
DeleteI believe that for a lot of us those national award have little or no value. It has been devalued by many of the persons who received awards in the past. I am a nobody, but I would not be interested in any of those awards.
ReplyDeleteInteresting pont.
DeleteI agree,We have been back-sliding on principles for many years, as citizens we no longer hold our government responsible it seems for nothing hense their continual mis-use of power given, until we all stand up and says enough is enough then we will remain in this condition
ReplyDeleteThey need to reconsider giving this man such an award or unless the government glorifying wrong doings in public
ReplyDeleteNote that the fact that I have coached my post in a 'not too sure' manner does not mean that I do not know more. I do not put up my posts just because I want to write. I have been around long enough now and I have had to deal with persons from all strata of the society and at all levels of the society. Read my lips.
ReplyDelete