The Gleaner's Editor-In-Chief, Garfield Grandison (right), presents Glenn Tucker, The Gleaner's Silver Pen winner for the month of September, with a copy of his winning letter and silver pen at the newspaper company's North Street, central Kingston, offices yesterday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Glenn Tucker received his first pen as a gift from a family friend in 1962, and with that pen he wrote a letter to the Editor of The Gleaner. He was just a young man then, but even in those early days, he possessed a deep interest in the affairs of his country and desired to see his people prosper.

In his most recent Letter to The Editor, which has won him the Silver Pen award for the month of September, Mr. Tucker carefully outlined his view of what he believed constituted a strong and effective Opposition.

This, he believes, is quite necessary for the proper management of the country's resources.

The former educator and sociologist said he believes in his country, but was afraid that its people are performing way below their true potential.

World is leaving us behind

"I have an uncomfortable feeling that the world is leaving us behind," he said. "In 1963, I read a New York Times article, which was entitled 'The Islands time forgot.'

"It was talking about the Cayman Islands and I felt so sorry for the people of that country because they had no university, no natural resources, nothing." Mr. Tucker noted that today, that same country is now regarded as the fifth largest financial centre in the world.

The former statistician said this has caused him to become deeply concerned about Jamaica. "We talk a lot about crime, but we fail to realise that that is just one symptom of the real problem, which is the disintegration of the family," he said.

Mr. Tucker believes that it is important to pay close attention to the country's children, as they are facing serious difficulties, especially in the absence of a stable family unit.