Dear Editor,

The adage “To err is human” is indeed true; we are all prone to making mistakes. However, in institutions charged with national responsibility — particularly those operating under the authority and emblem of central or local government — there is an expectation of thorough checks and balances to ensure accuracy and accountability.

The recent incident involving the renaming of a road in Waterhouse to honour our beloved sprint icon and philanthropist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, was a long-overdue tribute. Yet the misspelling of her name during the official unveiling was both disappointing and unacceptable.

One would reasonably expect that an organisation such as the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) would have the internal systems in place to prevent such basic errors, especially during a national event.

Regrettably, this is not an isolated case. I have personally received correspondence from the Ministry of Education in which I was misgendered, with pronouns being used interchangeably throughout the same document. This raises serious questions: Are these government departments so understaffed, or is there a deeper issue with the proficiency and competence of those responsible for document vetting?

When communications bear the stamp or insignia of the Government of Jamaica, they carry an air of authority and should reflect the highest standards of professionalism. Mistakes like these erode public confidence and simply should not occur.

Let us hope that lessons have been learnt and that such oversights will not be repeated in the future.

Mikhail A Graham

mikhailgraham@yahoo.com