The EDITOR, Sir:

I commend Paul Thorbourne most heartily on his letter concerning the location of the proposed new Parliament building (Gleaner, October 9, 2008).

The apparent headlong rush to force this nationally important project into what he aptly calls "the clutter of the Duke Street environs" will be a matter of profound regret if it materialises. For, we will have missed the opportunity of leveraging the Parliament building and Parliament itself to be the focus of a cultural and political centre that would be a unifying influence, drawing Jamaicans of all age groups and all social classes together, physically, as well as on the level of consciousness.

Implementation of the concept presented by Paul Thorbourne would create a permanent source of upliftment of the spirit of the people, and the country's leadership should not run the risk of being accused of thinking that Jamaicans are not deserving of this.

Pipe dream

Some would probably argue that Paul Thorbourne's ideas are a costly pipe dream. There is no doubt that considerable costs would be involved. But the complete concept could be implemented in phases in line with financial availability, with the first phase being undertaken with the resources that would be spent on the Duke Street alternative.

Is not this matter deserving of a debate in Parliament, as well as in the wider society?

I am, etc.,

RODERICK RAINFORD

Maryland, St Andrew