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Commentary With Winston Barnes: A British Gift? Britain Offering To Build A Prison In Jamaica

SOUTH FLORIDA – When is a gift that is really needed not a gift, but more like an embarrassment?  It might very well be the case where Britain has promised to construct a $25-million pounds prison in Jamaica.

First things first. I am not exactly young and if I am correct, a single prison in Jamaica has not been built in my lifetime, if any, maybe one or two at the most.

Conditions for even police officers at stations across the country are almost as bad as some lock ups. There is no question that prisons are needed, if a society continues to believe this is how to treat with citizens who break the law.

In this case, for Britain to offer a prison in Jamaica to a one time colony suggests one more time, that independence as in the case of Jamaica and a number of other former colonies is really a serious joke. Independent and sovereign states build their own prisons, period.

Yet, that is only a half of the story because Britain is not doing Jamaica any favours by offering to construct this prison. As one reparation advocate in Antigua and Barbuda says,  “this is to relieve Britain of the burden of housing and feeding Jamaican nationals in those British jails”. Further he says, “the investment of the $25-million pounds will be realized in short order”.

South Camp Prison in Kingston, Jamaica.
South Camp Prison in Kingston, Jamaica.

If that is true and I among others believe it to be, then this gift of  a prison in Jamaica is totally an embarrassment for an independent country, ironically even though Jamaica needs one.

Voice your opinion on the “Open Line” with Winston Barnes daily on WAVS 1170AM or listen on-line www.wavs1170am.com

Winston Barnes Host – “Open Line” WAVS 1170AM Photo Credit: Leroy “Dreamy” Riley
Winston Barnes Host – “Open Line” WAVS 1170AM
Photo Credit: Leroy “Dreamy” Riley

 

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South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

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