Cruel behaviour

I write in response to the excellent Commentary by Rev. Dr. William Watty in the 07/12/2015 issue of the SUN newspaper.

What is disturbing is Rev. Watty's description of Madam Speaker's treatment of the Opposition which he considers "cruel". Rev. Watty says she continuously interrupts, remonstrates 'until the poor victims lose their cool and fall into her trap'. He adds that 'To the discerning listener the tactics are not merely unacceptable, they are cruel...'.

I agree with Rev. Watty that the behaviour is cruel and makes a mockery of Dominican Parliamentary Democracy but it is also an example of poor and discourteous behaviour'. The general public are watching including the young. Dominica has already received a 'poor report card' from tourists who find Dominicans to be unfriendly people and discourteous store employees. Is it not possible that the cruel behaviour of public figures could potentially trickle down to society at large?

In England for example cruel and unacceptable behaviour has reached another level in certain areas of the private sector. A recent news report exposed some terrible abuses occurring in the Private healthcare giant BUPA whereby 'employees were caught pulling the hair of elderly patients, dragging residents from beds and treating them like "rag dolls". Worse still some died in mysterious circumstances resulting in police investigations. Care homes across Britain received almost 15,000 neglect complaints last year according to BBC statistics released in February thus a widespread problem.

Critics claim privatization in the sector invariably means profits and savings are placed ahead of patients' needs. However, the cultural concealment of abuses (aka cover-ups) is most damaging as cruel behaviour goes unpunished and is invariably repeated. All this suggests that there is a cost of cruel behaviour on society therefore, the leaders should act responsibly. JJ