THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to express my apprecia-tion to the Jamaica Labour Party leadership for not letting the $31 million Trafigura Beheer scandal be swept under the carpet.

There should be no rest without conclusive evidence that the People's National Party has returned the money as suggested legally and with appropriate explanation. This is of outmost importance to national building, so that the Jamaican people can see that corruption (when uncovered) will not be again covered up by collusion between the governing party and the Opposition.

The Prime Minister's comment: "Don't even go there with me. We all are aware of it in here (how political parties get contributions) and we must stop the hypocrisy and face the facts; there is a reality here and that's why we need to deal with this issue." This is highly inappropriate, unacceptable and disrespectful. The very reason we have Parliamentarians is for them to 'go there' and question activities that are suspicious or threaten to undermine our faith in the political process, political parties, and governance of our nation's business.

I would like to encourage our Prime Minister to 'go there' and show the Jamaican people that she can be trusted to 'root out corruption' first in her own party and then right across the nation (no party exempted). Jamaica is in terrible need of this kind of leadership if the common citizens, businesses and other organisations (including our schools) are to be expected to exhibit the desired 'values and attitudes' that are befitting of our national pledge, our national anthem and our religious heritage.

I am, etc.,

JOSEPH PATTERSON

joseph.patterson@sympatico.ca

Toronto, Ontario

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica