The Editor, Sir:

I have noted with interest two articles, in your newspaper of Friday, March 13, very critical of the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) governor. One by Keith Senior finds the governor wanting in his stewardship of the central bank over the last 11 years with an environment of high inflation and low growth and seemingly accuses the governor of de-emphasising the primary mandate of the bank.

The second challenges the governor to think outside of the box in addressing the needs of a critical sector of the country - manufacturing - in terms of affordable credit - an option that the governor was reported to have dismissed as "nonsense".

In light of the first article, I am frustrated with the governor's response to the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association. First, having failed, according to Senior, to meet the mandate of the bank, I find incredible the tone of his response to the request from the manufacturers.

Perhaps we need to hear the whole tape - but in its absence one would have thought that the response would have been more measured and less 'annoyed'. Something like 'Although I recognise the concern of the manufacturers, I don't think this approach would be prudent at this time. I am willing to sit with them to hear further details and commit to discussing the matter with the commercial and development banks, as well as the ministries of finance and commerce to get them the financing they need with the greatest alacrity'.

Now, I gather the governor has a significant group of admirers and I am not suggesting he is without competence, but the tone of arrogance I always sense coming from him as well as the former minister of finance, Omar Davies, is one of 'we have done and are doing a great job'.

Unfortunately, for us the numbers don't lie. We have a stagnant, high-inflation economy, a weak dollar, a horrendous trade deficit, an insufficiently educated workforce, a crime problem of civil war proportions, and a corrupt and bloated government - all under their watch. And they have managed to achieve all this with a people that have the potential to be the most creative, dynamic, hardworking people on Earth. I know they are not solely to blame but come on, 'world class'?!.

The question I ask myself and I think the country should ask is when are these politicians, on both sides of the divide, and technocrats going to admit they have failed this country and resign themselves to other pursuits far away from the leadership of our country. Perhaps if they could admit this failure I could look at them through more sympathetic eyes. They make me feel so hopeless for the future of Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

NIMAL AMITIRIGALA

amitirig@gmail.com.