Superficial editorial analysis
Published:Friday | May 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
Your article of May 27, titled 'Tivoli Gardens must be retrieved', was the most superficial analysis of Tivoli's politico-social-economic dilemma I have ever read. Like everyone in Jamaica, you must know the history of TG, so why write such a useless article?
We need to stop blaming everyone for the TG situation. Blaming everyone is blaming no one. Let's put the blame where it belongs, at the feet of Edward Seaga. We need some truth telling in Jamaica and let's have an honest and open discussion.
What is happening in TG is no accident; it was built for a specific purpose. That purpose was to maintain Edward Seaga in a position of power. As we have seen, no matter what political ideology was popular at the time, Edward Seaga's seat in Parliament was guaranteed. Jamaica could actually retire the chair he sat on.
Provided safe haven
The simple contract was, he defended, supported, provided a safe haven for TG residents no matter what activities they might have committed, and all they had to do was to make sure his political control was never challenged.
Again, let's be honest, this kind of garrison concept was quickly adopted by the People's National Party (PNP). They being power hungry themselves they used Seaga's concept to justify creating their own fiefdom. But we are talking about TG today.
Tivoli Gardens was like an evil controlled behavioural science project. The problem is, it worked. So here we have a community getting blind protection from corrupt people, while being denied the freedom to pursue their individual dreams of good education, growing up unmolested, starting their own private businesses, expressing their ideas and opinions, forming friends and relationships across districts and voting for whomever their choose. This would be stifling and destructive to the average youth anywhere in the world.
Tivoli Gardens is not a good idea gone bad, as your article suggested, it's an idea working perfectly. This concept did not originate with Edward Seaga either; history is filled with examples.
A leader once suggested. "Be so evil to them … they will beg you to lead them!"
I am, etc.,
R. HAMIL
Brooklyn, New York