There has been much criticism lately that one of the three colours in the Jamaican flag was left out in the backdrop for the swearing in of Montego Bay Mayor Glendon Harris.

Some people feel that the colour green was removed because of political motive while others feel it was a mistake.

But a group of schoolchildren were overheard this week commenting on the issue and they were not happy that the flag had only two colours instead of three.

Although the children are from a school in the inner-city, they said they were taught to have respect for the flag and the national anthem.

"I can't believe that we all know that the flag has three colours and someone could really make the flag with only two colours," a teenage boy remarked.

"Do you ever watch on television how people in other country have great respect for their national anthems and flags?" a schoolgirl queried.

"If you want to see how people disrespect the national anthem, just go to the theatre, they chat while the anthem is being played and they even refuse to stand. I know that most Jamaicans are foreign minded but not everybody will be able to live abroad, so for the time being let us be patriotic to our country," the teenage boy said.

An elderly woman joined in the conversation, remarking that politics sometimes let people be do silly things. "Mi a Labourite and me believe a politics business why dem never put in the green," she added.

"Well lady, I don't know if it is politics, all I am saying that I feel very bad that such a thing happened," the schoolgirl responded.

The elderly woman was in disagreement with the girl and she shouted "they should jail them and throw away the key for doing such a thing. After all, the flag belongs to all of us, it is our Jamaican flag".

Despite the woman's remarks that whoever is responsible for the absence of the green colour from the flag should be jailed, there is no law under which anyone could be charged.

People who disregard the national anthem, symbols and emblems are showing a lack of patriotism and respect for the country and that should never happen.