05.MAR.10

Editor: I would like to congratulate you on your Editorial of last Friday, 26th February, entitled ‘Drought, bush fires and Environmental Consciousness. In that article you gave a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of the scarcity of natural resources in the Caribbean, SVG’s exceptional fortune in not being adversely affected by drought as compared to her CARICOM neighbours, and your exhortation for us to become environmentally conscious relative to our wanton destruction of our environment, obviously precipitated by ‘bush fires’.{{more}}

Madam, your editorial was timely, as it exposed the stupidity of adults, grown men in search of game, who should take pride in preserving the local environment for the well-being of present and future generations.

From an educational point of view, the editorial piece could be used as an instructional tool in a classroom setting at the upper primary and lower secondary school levels.

For example, an integrated learning approach, with a duration of 45 minutes, encompassing Language Arts and Social Studies skills will be of tremendous benefits to learners in terms of vocabulary building and sensitivity to environmental hazards. The following words will support what I’m saying: resources, vulnerable, depletion, environment, priority, mitigation, disaster, extinguish fire, marine and slumber. Your Editorial was enlightening!

Then on the front page of your newspaper on the same occasion, Friday, 26th February, the bud headline ‘Reckless practice’ which surfaced was another interesting and thought provoking piece.

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller opined in the front page article that radio talk shows should be regulated, as according to him the “Recklessness” of some call-in programme could result in violence.

I want to endorse the Commissioner’s prediction. I made a similar prediction some years ago. It is only a matter of time before we have a serious social explosion as there is a social time bomb around.

Indeed it is a sad state of affairs that talk show hosts pander to their listeners’ vulgar and salacious tastes. In the process, other people’s characters are defamed and maligned, causing inner hurt and pain and subsequent damage to those people’s emotions.

In my view, ‘talk show programmes’ should have a National building thrust, must be enlightening and marked with civic awareness and education. Broadcasting control standards, the Commissioner added, are necessary because of the reckless practice perpetrated by talk show hosts.

Censorships of the electronic media and stiff regulations of the executions are imperatives. This of course will be an exemplary step in restraining the unbridled tongues of reckless callers and the hosts of call-in programmes.

Patmos Richards