Dear Editor,

It is with utter disbelief, hurt and outrage that I pen this letter. As a patriotic Jamaican, I was insulted when a picture of the swearing-in ceremony for councillors and the mayor of Montego Bay showed a backdrop of our flag without the colour green.

This certainly caused the civic ceremony to look like a political event. However, I cannot believe that that’s the motive. When is it ever justified to alter one of our national symbols? Do our emblems mean so little that they can be fiddled with?

Since the general election of December 2011 and the wide margin of success achieved by the PNP, there has been an idea bandied about that Jamaica is a PNP country. Whilst seen as a jest in some circles, in others it is quite the opposite as “things said in jest” and all that speak otherwise. This picture is speaking “otherwise”. It is adding substance to a dangerous idea that our island is indeed a one-party country. Such thoughts and indeed this heinous act of defiling our flag should be criminal.

I am even more outraged as other patriots are not condemning this act!

Lest we forget the meaning of our flag:

“The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag. Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people; gold, the natural wealth and beauty of sunlight; and green, hope and agricultural resources.

Marsha Gayle

Kingston