The Editor, Sir:

I reside in a community which was once sustained by farming. From experience, I know that if it can be avoided, one does not allow two big bulls anywhere near eachother, as the resulting mayhem could prove costly in terms of lives and property. Knowing what the political climate in the country currently is, I was astonished that the two political parties were holding motorcades within such close proximity to each other down here last week.

The People's National Party was up by Christiana, while the Jamaica Labour Party was down in Mandeville. People knowing the geography of the area would know that for people to get to Mandeville from Christiana and vice versa, both party supporters would have to pass each other along the way, thus providing opportunities for clashes to take place. My question is, why in the Devil's name were these two motorcades allowed in this area on the same day? Couldn't one have been held on a different day or one held somewhere else like Portland?

Observing party supporters zipping by protruding from motor vehicles, while some had liquor in hand, I am still breathing sighs of relief that there was no report of any mishaps, but I can only put this down to good luck. Surely the politics can't have blinded everybody and vanquished all common sense at all levels? It would be interesting to know which of the parties had scheduled to have their motorcade in the area first.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT MITCHELL

mitcib@yahoo.ca

Christiana P.O.

Manchester

Via Go-Jamaica