The Editor, Sir:

After Prime Minister Bruce Golding made the statements that the PNP was suffering from intellectual depravity, a lot of people chastised him. He further made the claim that termites had invested some people's brains and we almost crucified him. Was Mr Golding wrong in making such a statement?

Well, I have news for you and all Jamaicans. The Prime Minister certainly made those statements in the wrong context, but I will help him to fix it and put this thing to bed once and for all. There is no way after 18 years Jamaica could find itself worse than before if termites were not present somewhere around. Now, the challenge that the Government of Jamaica faces is that while other countries can fight against the termites of high prices, we are deprived in all areas to mount a counter-attack.

There are so many people who are blaming the Government for the alarming increases in every possible commodity within the country. I was reading an article on the website where the former Finance Minister was stating that the inflation rate for November and December was almost the same for a particular year under his stewardship. If the Former Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies was at the helm of the country's affairs today, it would be 'termites and powder house'. The fact of the matter is that most countries because of strong management throughout the good times are well equipped to deal with bad times like what we are experiencing now.

World economy has slowed

The world economy has slowed since last year and Jamaica is one country that had been set back by not only Hurricane Dean, but also volcanic economic policies practised before. I would like to tell Jamaicans that you are not alone, cooking gas in the UK has increased by 14 per cent, food prices are shooting up like the guns in Jamaica and the stock market is shaking like jingle bells. What the UK and other countries have are solid economies built by experience and sensible practitioners and not like some jokers that (maybe some pokers too) we have in Gordon House. Jamaica is suffering from the termite of inflation for which the foundation was laid several years ago when one Dr 'D' was in charge.

What we need now is strong leadership and a person who can take hard decisions in order to bring back prosperity to our country. Jamaicans will have to brace themselves for some very hard times in the coming months, but thank God that we have a captain who has no time to entertain termites.

I am, etc.,

CRAIG DAVIS

ccraig73@yahoo.com