THE EDITOR, Sir:
MICHAEL LEE-CHIN, in my opinion, has been the most inspirational Jamaican person of 2002.
Locally, he has blazed a trail in the past year that is nothing short of phenomenal. He went against the grain and invested billions in a local bank at a time when the economy is in bad shape. However, it has been proven throughout history that men who take chances in the face of alarming odds sometimes emerge amongst the most successful in their field.
In 1972, when the future of the Wailers looked shaky because no one was interested in them at the time, Chris Blackwell took a chance and loaned them the money to record an album, and the rest is history.
In 1976, when Jamaica was in economic turmoil and tourism was at an all-time low, John Iss a and his SuperClubs group invested heavily in the tourism sector when several others were pulling out, and the rest is history. These men prove that even in the face of alarming odds, a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can be realised if you are committed to the task at hand.
Inspirational figures like Michael Lee-Chin are exactly what Jamaica needs right now for, no matter how bad things look, such persons by virtue of their words and actions instil a sense of hope in us, despite alarming odds.
I am etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
