The Editor, Sir:

As a recent visitor to Jamaica and an account holder at two branches of Scotiabank in Canada, I noted with interest the article in The Gleaner (February 7) describing the great success of BNS Jamaica, and the picture of the enormous building, Scotiabank Centre, which so clearly attests to that success.

Such a success story makes it all the more shocking that the tiny branch of Scotiabank in Oracabessa is to close in April.

Apparently, residents of Oracabessa must now go to Port Maria eight miles away on a bad road. Yet, very few appear to own cars and many older people cannot use the ATM.

I am writing to protest this decision. For a bank that has a high reputation for service and for business acumen, such a decision seems both heartless and short-sighted.

For an institution that is making large profits, it seems particularly unfeeling to close a branch that is important to a small town's survival, even if that branch is not demonstrably profitable. And such a closing gives the bank a very negative image.

The closing of the Oracabessa branch also appears to lack long-term business vision. With the new highway being built along Jamaica's north shore, with hotel and condo developments by Chris Blackwell being rumoured, clearly there is going to be an enormous expansion of the tourist and retirement home sector in the Oracabessa area.

I am, etc.,

KATHERINE WEARY

waweary@hotmail.com

Quebec, Canada

Via Go-Jamaica