THE EDITOR, Sir:

For some time now, there have been calls to pay teachers based on performance. This is based on the fact that too many semi-illiterate children are leaving school. While I agree to this suggestion, I believe that such consideration should be adopted for all public sector workers. We cannot afford to have the police not being able to stem the crime wave in addition to some of them abusing the citizens of the country, but always demanding premium salaries. What have they got to show for this? What is their success rate? Their salaries should be based on performance. What is their response time and rate when you call 119? We should demand that they reduce the crime rate by a certain percentage over a period of time and their salaries will be increased accordingly.

Another set of public sector workers who always seem to want to hold the country at ransom are the nurses. I agree that, like the police and the teachers, their jobs are challenging, but their job is to provide patient care at a particular level. How many of them adhere to this? I have been to public hospitals and observe how some nurses treat patients. Some are disrespectful to visitors and patients alike. The president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica need to address this situation. The funny thing though, when they go abroad they are transformed. Remember I say some, because I have encountered some real nice ones also.

I wish to commend the employees of the various Inland Revenue Departments for the courteous, efficient manner in which I observe them carrying out their jobs. Whatever training they went through seems to work. Keep it up you deserve my tax dollar.

I am, etc.,

CONCERNED TAXPAYER

Falmouth P.O.

Trelawny