Predictably, but unfortunately, the focus of the headlines following Tuesday's protest against the Budget was about the size of the turnout: 'Another tax protest fizzles' and 'Four protest', etc.

But two important things were missing in those headlines. The first has to do with the fact that the police commissioner's office denied 'four protesters' as it turns out the right to a peaceful protest march.

What was the Police High Command afraid of? What was the threat to national security from a small group of people marching to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of political expression? Was this not an outrage that the press should have been concerned about?

According to the police, if we (Campaign For Social and Economic Justice) didn't like their decision, we should appeal to the minister of national security. If that is the recourse, then perhaps the minister made the decision himself? Forget about the fable of the police having control over operational matters.

police power

I'm afraid that it is this kind of heavy-handed use of police power which speaks volumes about the quality of our so-called democratic system and which doesn't seem to exercise the media. The undemocratic nature of the Budget exercise, for example, is apparent to no one.

Consequently, the rich and powerful were able to breathe a sigh of relief that the fuel tax sailed through Parliament. The prime minister proved his toughness as demanded by the editorial writers, and there was no effective protest against what is a scandalous Budget which calls for sacrifice from the poor while the rich laugh all the way to the bank.

The other point that Jamaicans should be pondering is where were the trade unions? Where were the other civil-society groups?

Audley Shaw is predicting a five per cent decline in the economy and it is my hope that the next headlines will read that 'Trade unions and civil-society groups lead mass protest to reject Government's attempt to impose further sacrifices on the poor'.

So our protest didn't fizzle. It was just a first step against economic oppression.

I am, etc.,

LLOYD D'AGUILAR

lgdaguilar@yahoo.com

Kingston 6