The Editor, Sir:Trust is 'a firm belief in the reliability or truth or strength, etc., of a person or thing.' It is unfortunate that the words 'reliability', ''truth' or 'strength', are not words that one can readily associate with political parties. This is a sad state if one is to accept that the relationship that a nation enjoys with a political party is as important as any other.

When we look at the incidents of lies, deception, mismanagement, corruption and scandals that are associated with political parties, there is serious cause for concern. It also questions the sustainability of existing relationships.

I believe that it would do the political parties well to examine the number of persons of voting age who do not even bother to get enumerated. This figure is more than the total number of votes given to both parties. Indeed, neither party is very popular right now.

In the run-up to the September 3 election, the PNP drove home the point - or at least attempted to - that Bruce could not be trusted. Since Bruce has never really had the opportunity to perform in this capacity, I would want to reserve my judgment on Bruce and the 'new JLP', as only time will tell.

I wish I could say the same about the PNP, but then, my own reliability, strength of argument and truthfulness would have to be thrown out the window.

Trust is something that is earned and for what it is worth, I would want to earn mine as a fair contributor to public opinion. I think the PNP should use its time in Opposition to reinvent itself, because right now, instead of being the JLP's 'worst nightmare', they themselves are caught in a sticky situation, and this is very real.

I am, etc.,

DAREN S. LARMOND

Optilearn1@yahoo.com