Isn’t the punishment supposed to fit the crime?

Jun 25, 2011 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The letter by Geralda Dennison; “what an unfair, unjust world we live in” (Kaieteur News, June 12), was a very touching one that would have stirred the emotions of everyone, except those with a heart made of stone.
One couldn’t help emphatising with the brother; a victim of bureaucratic strangulation and unconscionable judgment.
This story, the plight of a teacher, forces us to take another hard and long look, and thoroughly examine all over again the words decency and uprightness.
If I had my way I would have stories like this one published in bold letters and placed in a commanding position in all newspapers, so that people get a clear understanding of what we call justice.
As was reported, a young man and a father of three, who had been teaching for 17 years and is owed three months pay by the state, amounting to $180,000, stole some tools from his place of employment which he admits to, and is remorseful and begs in a heartbreaking plea for mercy, explaining his circumstances – children to feed, clothe and house – but it all fell on deaf ears and he is sentenced to 12 months jail.
Please note that this dedicated teacher, in spite of not receiving his three months pay, continued teaching: 2 CXC classes; 2 third from classes; 3 second form classes! Yet that didn’t matter, 12 months imprisonment.
It is events/situations like this that trip people off. So often we pay very little attention to small things until to our own detriment they grow out of control. How can lopsided justice make people/society any better?
There are many Government agencies and state corporations that take a light year to pay people, you could starve to death before that money comes – just like this teacher.
I’m glad that Geralda Dennison has highlighted this matter. We need more voices on issues like these.
I’ve been pointing these things out for some time now and have noted some clear attempts to stifle the awareness of these unfair and unjust happenings.
How decent are these decisions/judgments, show me where is the uprightness in these matters?
What institution or individual is worth its salt that contributes to the destruction of families, and by extension society, where no provision is made to maintain the sanctity and well being of mother and children left abandoned, when for whatever reason the sole breadwinner is imprisoned?
How does this help, I have to ask again: do these people work in the abstract? It somehow didn’t even matter that the Government was indebted to the young man some $180,000 for three months.
Was there consideration for his teaching workload, his commitment to those students, such invaluable service? That’s what I’m talking about – where is the decency? Show me the uprightness?
And isn’t the punishment supposed to fit the crime? Don’t they see the other side of the coin?
Frank Fyffe

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