Fire safety in schools

Recently, the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department conducted a fire-safety inspection at the Risen Messiah Early Childhood Basic School in Good Hope, Negril.

Unaware that the smoke detectors were being tested, all the tiny tots exited the building as quickly as possible in a single file and gathered at their assembly point. Not one of them returned to their classrooms for their bags - unlike some older students and workers at various institutions who pay scant regard to fire drills. Their actions must be commended.

Well done to the principal, Francella Johnson, for making her students' safety a priority!

- Morine Thompson

Senior deputy superintendent

Westmoreland Division

Questions re bike taxis

I refer to the article in The Sunday Gleaner 'Taxi-bike

confessions', by Noel Thompson. I agree that this mode of public transportation serves areas that regular taxis do not; however, these bike drivers often act like lunatics, having total disregard for other road users.

Do we still have a Road Traffic Act that requires that (a) all motorbike riders wear a helmet; (b) all motor bikes have left and right rear-view mirrors and (c) there be only one pillion rider?

Many times, up to four schoolchildren are on one bike.

Within the last two months, two bike riders were killed in accidents in the Negril area. Perhaps if they had been wearing helmets, their lives could have been saved.

- Wendy Lindo

Box 2566, Negril

New Rampin' Shop still bad

The rewriting of Rampin' Shop is not much better than the original. There is no difference to it. That song should not have been given airplay in the first instance. It is the worst song ever, as far as I can recall.

I don't know much about Spice, but the little I know about Vybz Kartel, he could have done something more 'listenable'. I have heard songs that he has done that are passable for broadcast; I was even amazed to know that he was the artist.

Please let us try to make more positive music so as to make our country better.

- N. Bannister

hyacinth_bannister@yahoo.com