Dear Editor,

What is the definition of “leggo beast”? Is it the children of the poorer class of people who are disenfranchised and society has condemned?

The kids who were raised walking barefoot in their underwear and racing their fudge sticks in gutter water, the ones who can only afford a suck-suck and a 10 cent bulla? Rev Thwaites, please enlighten us.

Many chilldren fro the lower echelons of societyhave taken our island to the world; check how many of our athletes, prior and present, from Merlene Ottey to Usain Bolt, are from affluent backgrounds. I have yet to see the non-leggo beast children, the privileged class, follow suit.

Classism has been practiced in Jamaica for far too long. We must now reject stereotyping and start investing in our social capital.

Minister Thwaites’ apology is not enough. He should recuse himself as minister of education. His solution to the illiteracy problem plaguing the country is to close down schools and build prisons. Is Thwaites looking for permanent housing for these so-called “leggo beasts”.

Teach a child in the way they should grow and when they get older they will not depart from it.

I would like to thank all phenomenal “leggo beasts” who have made a tremendous contribution to nation-building.

Rev Tanasha Buchanan

tanashabuchanan@yahoo.com