Oh no, Mr Thorne!

IS IT ME or is the month rolling on by quickly?

I feel like so much is happening and quickly too. There are so many issues I wanted to deal with today.

Initially, my plan was to focus on the cost of living but I feel I need one full article dedicated to that topic so I will park that for now.

Over the weekend, I was seething about what is happening with commuters in Christ Church where some ZR drivers licensed to ply the 3D route, that would also include Parish Land and Fairy Valley, are refusing to go into the latter area. I promise I will deal with it here but after a vexing issue for me.

I listened to the press conference with Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne yesterday as he announced the 15 new candidates who will be contesting the next general election. I was curious about the line-up.

It is the narrative that followed that left me annoyed and I feel Mr Thorne should know better as he is a veteran lawyer and someone who has been close to the media over the years commenting on various issues and cases, and similarly as a parliamentarian where he has had reason to address many issues with the media.

It never came across to me that he felt then that the media was “Enemy No. 1”.

Somehow, though, as I listened to the question and answer session, that was the feeling I came away with.

NATION senior journalist Colville Mounsey asked a legitimate question about Mr Thorne’s own plan on running in the next election and in which constituency.

He asked about St Philip North as the constituency where there is much interest and whether Thorne himself would be running in the next election, if he is returning to Christ Church South which he currently represents, or if he is looking to run elsewhere.

He started off well answering the question, explaining the process, but then what followed was uncalled for in my estimation.

“If the media has some salacious curiosity about one constituency or another, we are going to let that stay in the media . . . . We will not engage ourselves in salacious gossip.”

The NATION journalist questioned the use of the word salacious, adding that the media was simply trying to get feedback on what the public has been asking. He followed up and asked what stage they were at in the process as it related to St Philip North.

The “peanut gallery” then raised its voice, prompting moderator Rosemary Alleyne, a former journalist, to try to remind those present that they were live to a large audience and reminded that the media was asking hard questions.

She said: “Please be silent when the media is asking questions and when Mr Thorne is responding. He is not only speaking to us but he is speaking to a global and local audience.”

No, Mr Thorne, the media is not trying to create a storm over salacious political gossip. We are, in fact, trying to do our jobs on behalf of the people of this country. Our job is to ask questions the public wants answers to – of the experts, those in authority across sectors and political leaders.

The reality is, many members of the public do not get the opportunity to engage with these individuals and therefore depend on us to intervene on their behalf.

Hasty fix to PSV drop-offs please

I NOW RETURN to the “rogue” public service vehicle (PSV) drivers who seem to feel they are a law unto themselves and need to be dealt with – and with haste.

The NATION’s Maria Bradshaw last week detailed the feelings of some of the residents of Parish Land and Fairy Valley, Christ Church, who endure the problem of just being dropped off and having to walk at least two miles to and from their homes because of the actions of these drivers.

Some reported that they depend on the goodwill of others who stop and give them a “lift”.

Parliamentary representative for the area, Wilfred Abrahams, who himself was unceremoniously dropped off when testing first hand what residents reported two years ago, has called for their permits to be revoked.

My question is, if this was a problem raised two years ago by residents who traverse that road day and night, putting themselves in potential danger, why has this not yet been dealt with?

What does it take for this wrong to be corrected? Does someone have to be killed on that stretch while walking to or from home in the dead of night? Does someone have to be raped or robbed?

What exactly will it take for residents of this area to have safe access to their homes?

Worse yet to me, we have a minister, a lawyer by the way, who said he addressed this matter on numerous occasions in Parliament (where other lawmakers and people holding senior positions in this country sit) and still nothing is done to help these people?

Are we so callous and uncaring as a society where many are mobile that we are not concerned with others who may not be as fortunate?

Where do the laws of the land come in to help in the unfair actions meted out to innocent commuters who have no other way to get around but by these same PSVs?

What are the owners of these vehicles doing to curb this and sanction their drivers? Then, the heads of these various transportation bodies, what are you doing?

Minister Abrahams, in his words, said he spoke to Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw, who assured him that action was being taken to address this issue.

The residents await a speedy solution.

carolmartindale@nationnews.com @carol_nationbb