Grooming, golf courses and women

THE EDITOR: I write to express my disappointment with the many tangential comments in the public domain with respect to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s comments in the course of the budget debate.

Firstly, the word “groom” relates to the original word “servant” and was used in reference to someone whose role was to serve, attend to, wait upon, to squire or to act as a personal valet. It is only in this context therefore that Rowley’s comments should be taken.

It is difficult to understand notions of disrespect to or poor imaging of women.

Indeed, if the PM’s statement is pursued and the analogy of a golf course be pursued, one can only conclude that, on the contrary, it conveyed a sense of deep respect for and encouraged extending great care and attention on our part to our women.

Most of us may not be aware of the care and attention to detail which must be afforded to world class golf courses on a sustained basis.

It is solely for this reason that these courses are rated as world class. How then can this be equated with disrespect?

Let us therefore abandon the tangential arguments and return to the substantive and important rebuttals to some of the weak and in some instances diversionary arguments from the Opposition in Parliament.

SAMUEL B HOWARD via e-mail