Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to a letter to the editor published in the Daily Observer edition of Monday, December 12, 2016 headlined ‘Yellow Pages teacup storm’ and written by Rev Clinton Chisholm.

It stated, in part, “If you have a problem with the front cover of your copy of the current Jamaican Yellow Pages telephone directory (dancehall scene) why not just flip it over to the back cover (ska/rocksteady scene), or better still just tear off the flipping front cover. This is a simple solution to a simple problem in my view. The cover is almost literally a flat (two-dimensional), cardboard photo and that disturbs or turns on some of us? Give me a break!”

I disagree with him fundamentally and profoundly. He is being much too simplistic regarding the issue. The fact of the matter is that certain proper values, principles and moral standards are expected to be consistently maintained by companies operating and publishing public material in this country, more so a public Yellow Pages directory which is openly displayed in most homes and available to all, especially young children.

When young youngsters with impressionable minds view that despicable and outlandish dancehall scene on the Yellow Pages directory’s cover they will undoubtedly form the opinion that such behaviour is acceptable and they will begin to emulate and perform such behaviour and movements in their homes and in public, hence damaging their moral standards.

Rev Chisholm should appreciate, understand and recognise the fact that companies have a duty to maintain a high and uplifting moral standard when displaying their various products to consumers, advertising their items for sale and, contemporaneously, when publishing reading materials and books such as the Yellow Pages directory.

I would not like my son or daughter or any of my young relatives attending school to take up the Yellow Pages directory and be imitating the dancehall movements depicted.

Doesn’t Rev Chisholm appreciate the plethora of negatives that persist today in Jamaica? If no public publishing standard is maintained and firmly adhered to in this country then any standard will go, and that will have devastating consequences.

I welcome the decision taken to publish another cover scene.

Robert Dalley, Esq

St James

robertdalley1@hotmail.com