http://disqus.com/by/robertbennett/enSun, 27 Dec 2009 09:32:43 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091227/cleisure/cleisure3.html#comment-27331617<p>This article lacks depth,and, especially coming from the pen of a professor at the UWI. As far as most persons are concerned and despite his so-called bungling of things, Bruce has more knowledge about the affairs of this country than any present politician. As a matter of fact he has demonstrated that he is more than capable in doing even more than Eddie given the right set of circumstances.</p><p>At least Eddie didn't have to bequeath a broken down and tattered economy, coupled with one of the worst recessions ever experienced.</p><p></p>robertbennettSun, 27 Dec 2009 09:32:43 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091209/letters/letters5.html#comment-25289907<p>I couldn't agree with you more. Who is the US to be forcing us to take actions against our own sovereign laws? Its easy for them to trump up indictments on whoever they choose to, but I am in agreement with our Prime Minister to allow our laws to take priority.</p><p>The US is known for its bully tactics, and I figure that they believe they can just speak the word and Jamaica will respond with a "yes sir"</p><p>Unlike the PNP the JLP will not sell out the country's rights and liberties.</p>robertbennettWed, 09 Dec 2009 10:07:45 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091113/letters/letters4.html#comment-22894735<p>There are two things from this article that I deem important, and these are fostering agricultural development and population control. It is pointless trying to build an economy in which there isn't enough to feed everyone in that economy.</p><p>If we are to succeed in this land of wood and water, our institutions of higher learning will have to play a more critical role in formulating courses that are geared towards agricultural appreciation and development.</p><p>We live in an age of technology and there should be no excuse as to why persons cannot be informed and educated about what it takes to help in the development process. Every red-blooded Jamaican should become involved in the process of development.</p><p>This government needs to rid this country of idleness. There are far too many idle hands who could be making a contribution in the fields. There are far too many idle lands that need to be utilized. </p>robertbennettFri, 13 Nov 2009 09:05:39 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091111/lead/lead1.html#comment-22799314<p>If the government is able to garner more revenue from the Trelawny facility presently, and especially in these times of recession, by allowing other interested parties to make use of it, then the administration of Utech needs to understand that reality.</p><p>It must not be portrayed that the government's refusal in granting Utech the opportunity to utilise the facilities, is a lack of interest on their part for Utech not to expand.</p><p></p>robertbennettWed, 11 Nov 2009 22:39:10 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091109/cleisure/cleisure3.html#comment-22447960<p>Incidentally these kinds of lyrics coming from these so-called music genres, is no doubt helping to fuel the crime and violence that is plaguing society today. It baffles me how society as a whole, as well as government can sit by and not confiscate the wealth of these artistes. Artistes like these are extremely dangerous and must be taught a lesson. </p>robertbennettMon, 09 Nov 2009 11:19:59 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090908/letters/letters5.html#comment-16186833<p>And this is part of the problems with grand juries. Half of their cases re extraditions are built on the testimonies of criminals themselves. The US government is not one I have grown to trust despite their claim to democracy and justice.</p><p>The government of Jamaica reserves the right to take its time in handling a case as this. This is a sovereign nation, despite our dependence on the "mighty" US. All those who are exaggerating the situation don't seem to have a clue as to the implications of this particular extradition. It is easy for them to sit in their lofty offices and talk all they want, but are they prepared to stop and pay attention to the mountains of problems that will erupt if this transition isn't carefully catered to? </p>robertbennettTue, 08 Sep 2009 10:35:29 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090908/letters/letters2.html#comment-16186410<p>I too had heard the comment made by Lisa Hanna and wondered seriously about it. Is this the kind of improvement the PNP is hoping to achieve based on the Meek's report? Its obvious that no attention is being paid to the report, because if it were, then how can a member of the party, and more importantly, a member of parliament be allowed to stoop so low just so that she can gain political mileage?</p><p>Honesty is still the best of policies Lisa Hanna, and the people over whom you have been placed deserve better. </p>robertbennettTue, 08 Sep 2009 10:23:23 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090906/focus/focus3.html#comment-16065224<p>The major problem with these so-called Athiests is their inability to accept being accountable to a higher being in the universe. They argue about the truth of the theory of evolution, when the framers of the theory themselves had doubts about it.</p><p>One doesn't have to be educated to see that the universe itself came about by orderly design, and seems to be continuing in the same order. </p>robertbennettSun, 06 Sep 2009 13:28:43 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090905/letters/letters4.html#comment-16012989<p>I could not have said it better. This gun amnesty is something I have been crying out for. Why the powers that be cannot see the relevance of such beats me. If any likely thing that will bring the Golding administration to its knees, it would have to be its present weakness in handling efficiently, and effectively, the crime situation in Jamaica.</p><p>Crime more than economic hardship can drive a people to switch allegiance, and Mr. Golding must be careful not to take this very important factor for granted. </p>robertbennettSat, 05 Sep 2009 01:09:03 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090903/letters/letters6.html#comment-15880667<p>I very much agree with that point of view. Besides, polls can be twisted to force responses. If I were to ask the masses - "which party do you think is better able to manage the crisis we now face?", no doubt the responses would overwhelmingly favour the Golding administration.</p><p>Education goes a very far way in fully understanding what is at stake. The average populace isn't educated enough to always give credible responses. That is why I do not trust polls. </p>robertbennettThu, 03 Sep 2009 10:23:58 -0000http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090903/letters/letters1.html#comment-15880335<p>Its pretty obvious Mr. Matherson that you have not been to one of the PM's town hall meetings. You talk about people wearing party colours as if that is a problem. The fact is there are two major parties that represent different political views, and that is a fact of life. The purpose of the town hall meetings are designed to keep the people informed about the Government's plans in a personal way, which is similar to the Patterson's "Live and direct" ones.</p><p>The kind of meetings you're calling for would not be realistic and fruitful, because of what it might lead to. Its not the Opposition that is in power, so let the Pm and his team take care of running the country. The PNP administration had its fair share and made a mess of it. It is now the JLP's turn to try and clean up the mess. </p>robertbennettThu, 03 Sep 2009 10:17:21 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090902/letters/letters6.html#comment-15761159<p>I'd have to agree with you. Criminals must be forced to feel the effects of the law, but how can they when there is no law against, as you suggested, being a member of any gang. Gang membership empowers criminals, and the minister of national security seems, if only in theory, to have the right idea about destroying gangs.</p><p>We cannot afford to have thugs make light of the law. As we speak more gangs are being formed, and the longer we wait to take real and effective action, the greater the problem becomes. Re-instate curfews after certain hours of the night. Cordon off those areas that seem to hide the criminals, and increase the check points.</p><p>Criminals are born through idleness, and frankly speaking there are far too many idle youths on the streets, who are waiting to explode like time bombs. </p>robertbennettWed, 02 Sep 2009 10:32:59 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090901/letters/letters3.html#comment-15749287<p>Its disingenuous on your part when you refer to a 2-year-old JLP administration as ineffective, when in truth and in fact it was the PNP administration over most of the last 18 1/2 years that has laid the platform for failure due to its gross mismanagement of the economy.</p><p>Learn to be honest and give credit where it is due. Jamaicans are not fools, and they will long remember the undue suffering brought on by Dr. Omar Davies' fiscal and monetary policies that led to the financial meltdown in the '90s. How could anyone forget that? How could anyone forget the height to which interest rates had jumped to? Or have you selectively forgotten that rates actually reached close to 60%, if not more.</p><p>The sooner the PNP realizes that Portia will have to go if there is any semblance of hope of recovery for the party the better.</p><p>.</p><p></p>robertbennettWed, 02 Sep 2009 00:55:00 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090831/letters/letters4.html#comment-15651808<p>Rightly so Mr. McKoy! Our students need more than just academic achievements, or excellence, but in addition to all that they need to have inculcated in them moral and social values. We seem to be overlooking the most important areas as it relates to true education, which should extend just merely pursuing a course of study.</p><p>Social and moral values hold society together. History clearly shows that the mightiest of nations have sunk because of a lack of moral and social values among its citizenry. Today we see it everywhere in society where rampant indiscipline has taken over society as both young and old do as they please without a thought as to the effect their actions are having on society.</p><p>A case in point is the ease with which people urinate on the streets. No one seems to care about the lack of civic pride that permeates society. I recall witnessing on more than one occasions, where men would urinate on church walls, as if they were using their personal toilet.</p><p>So once again you're perfectly right sir in arguing your case. What is education without discipline and social attitudes? </p>robertbennettMon, 31 Aug 2009 10:49:47 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090831/cleisure/cleisure1.html#comment-15650934<p>I agree with the author of this editorial. There needs to be forward planning yes, but it aught to be done in the light of what is affordable in these harsh economic times. The question is will we be able to return to such projects after we would have received the loan from the IMF?</p><p>If so, then it means that the Golding government is going to have to walk a very tight rope in ensuring that we manage borrowed money as best as possible. While this is going to be a tough cookie to crumble, I do believe that we are in good hands. </p>robertbennettMon, 31 Aug 2009 10:26:25 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090828/news/news5.html#comment-15528452<p>This comes as positive news for Jamaicans in general. Its a good spin-off, regardless of the size, to help ease the unemployment problem</p>robertbennettFri, 28 Aug 2009 11:01:01 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090827/letters/letters4.html#comment-15515376<p>I'd have to agree with Peaty. We cannot use discrimination to highlight the negatives of discrimination. If light-skinned women are in the minority in this country, then having to quarrel about their being chosen as the best representatives on the international level doesn't speak much for our motto - "out of many one people" </p>robertbennettFri, 28 Aug 2009 00:45:06 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090807/cleisure/cleisure1.html#comment-14432759<p>The economic ship is no doubt traversing turbulent waters. More than ever the Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance Audley Shaw need to level with the Jamaican people about the necessary changes that must be made, if we are going to keep this ship afloat. Jamaicans need to understand that things cannot be as usual. The principle of self-reliance should take on greater meaning.</p><p>Expenditure in health care will have to be cut, which may appear as bad advice on the surface, but not if its approached from a preventative point of view. Health education must come alive and take on more flesh if we are going to cut expenditure.</p><p>This government is paying out too much money catering to the treatment and curing of disease, rather than teaching the nation how to maintain good health. Our doctors need to learn more about the importance of good nutrition, and how the lack thereof leads to chronic diseases. Medicine needs a new facelift.</p><p>Dr. Christopher Tufton has been doing a great job in not just boosting the moral of farmers, but in demonstrating that we are quite capable of feeding ourselves. We need to stop importing what we can grow.</p><p>I am confident that we can sail safely to the shores of economic recovery as long as we discipline ourselves. I am also confident that the captain at the deck of the ship means well.</p><p></p>robertbennettFri, 07 Aug 2009 10:54:12 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090726/focus/focus1.html#comment-13347926<p>Good points Mr. Boyne. We have no choice really but to go back to the IMF. Now is the time for Jamaicans to wake up and see the true nature of the problem that has been plaguing us for a long time. The average Jamaican has not really learned how to save for a rainy day. We tend to spend on things we really do not need. Now with an IMF deal in the wings we will have no choice but to learn to make do with the little we have.</p><p>One thing I am certain of though, and that is, I am confident that under a JLP-led government we have a better chance of managing the economy. We have already begun to see signs of it in two important sectors, despite the international crisis, and these are...the agricultural and tourism sectors.</p><p>If we put our hearts and hands together as a people, I believe we can beat the odds. </p>robertbennettSun, 26 Jul 2009 05:42:44 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090716/news/news2.html#comment-12739481<p>Interesting to say the least. Is it that the older political hopefuls are being forced to step aside so as to cater for youthful exuberance? Will the spin off from the last PNP presidential elections have an impact on Mikael Phillips? I have a feeling it will have a positive outcome for him. It might just be a means of cooling down what still appears to be strong feelings that still linger from the last elections results. </p>robertbennettThu, 16 Jul 2009 08:57:51 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090714/letters/letters4.html#comment-12641349<p>If we do not see the need to invest speedily in the closed circuit television system, then the kind of impact we expect to see in crime solution will be minimal. The Private Sector needs to put their monies where their concern is before this monster takes over for good. </p>robertbennettTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:55:52 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090713/letters/letters6.html#comment-12580274<p>I am one hopeful Jamaican after having heard Dr. Tufton's sectoral debate presentation. There can be nothing less than success when preparation is pursued by hard work. Thank you Dr. Tufton for taking the bull by the horn, and proving to Jamaicans, that there is hope for Jamaica and its people if we put our hearts and hands together.</p><p></p>robertbennettMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:28:23 -0000http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090713/letters/letters5.html#comment-12578236<p>I agree wholeheartedly with this contributor. It cannot be that our culture should be used as an excuse for gross disrespect for self and for society at large. Dance hall music is nothing more than basal sexual expression. From this can only come disease, and crime.</p>robertbennettMon, 13 Jul 2009 11:01:16 -0000