Dear Editor,

The unbecoming behaviour of some of our parliamentarians on Tuesday is not surprising, as Parliament is merely a microcosm of the Jamaican society. The parliamentarians come from an increasingly coarse and morally deficient society.

We do not usually scout out our candidates for political office with any great focus on the solidity of their moral and ethical constitution and their behavioural prowess, so the possibility for such distasteful and unprofessional behaviour is there.

Moreover, the mere election of an otherwise morally and ethically deficient or behaviourally challenged person to the Parliament does not result in their being automatically "cured".

In this our 50th year as an independent nation, it is rather disconcerting that we continue to be so challenged and seem to be descending into a morass of decadence. Instead of becoming a kinder and gentler society, we are becoming coarser and more lacking in basic values and attitudes.

Instead of maturing politically, partisan invective, political tribalism and victimisation remain more like diseases that continue to thwart the progress of our political practices and democratic processes.

Instead of our politicians committing themselves to developing the potential of our people and promoting the development of our nation, they continue to play with the people's business and wallow in the tribalistic filth that continues to pollute our nation.

The media, the church, the school, the home and civil society should combine to erase such scourges from our national landscape.

It is my fervent hope that as we pause to recognise our first 50 years as a nation and before we move on, we will stop to engage in some deep introspection and commit ourselves to doing all in our power to ensure a better Jamaica.

Kevin KO Sangster

sangstek@msn.com