Commentary

Stepping backward

BEFORE YESTERDAY'S PROTEST, there was talk that the demonstrations would be peaceful and within the limits of the law.

But, based on the stories and pictures we have seen so far, the demonstrations have not been within the limits of the law as several roads have been blocked across the island.

Although there is nothing wrong with demonstrations as long as they are peaceful, it is the blocking of the roads that is harmful and illegal. Whenever a road is blocked, several productive hours are lost by those who use that road. Hours are also lost clearing the roadblocks and so every step taken before the road was cut off becomes two steps backwards.

In light of this, THE STAR believes that yesterday's protest represented two steps backward. Shutting down most of the country has not only slowed down productivity, but has resulted in millions of dollars being lost by an already overburdened economy.

Still, while it may be argued that desperate times call for desperate measures, the decision to block the roads was a bad one. After all, several able-bodied Jamaicans were forced to go home although they left home in the hope of building our economy.

THE STAR hopes however, that yesterday was the only day the demonstrations occurred as the longer it lasts the more hurt it will cause us in the long term.