I have been a student of his and would like to send this little letter to thank him. Keep up the good work, son!You can also pass along my email address to him. I'm a now an editorial cartoonist and must also say thanks and hello to Barbara Gloudon, Joan Williams, Christopher Issa, Ben Brodie, Winston Witter, Lloyd Williams, Miss Pottinger, and all the staff at The Gleaner Company.

- Eric Johns

ericjohns73@yahoo.com

Sunrise

Florida

Misguided policies

The recent decision to return to the IMF by this current administration is only reflecting upon a practice of misguided economic policies, a set of policies for which the previous administration was booed for many years.

The IMF is there to help countries in trouble and governments are elected to serve the people and help in our achieving self-sufficiency. At this point, which one is our government doing: helping us achieve self-sufficiency, or helping IMF impose upon us harsh sanctions once more?

- Everton E Spencer

spenceree@yahoo.com

Positive youth vibes

I write with a profound sense of pride in knowing that contrary to the negative views expressed by some cynics, all is not lost for Jamaica as it pertains to our youth. Indeed, I must applaud the efforts of the Scotiabank Change-Maker Winner Sandre Malcolm from UWI, Mona, who has walked away with almost a million dollars for his winning entry in the competition.

Indeed his efforts and subsequent success must be applauded!

As a UWI student myself, I find it very uplifting when young persons go after opportunities and are driven for success and excellence.

In the same breath, a story was carried in another local newspaper on Monday on 20-year-old Sasha Payne, a former female gangster who was once described by the West Kingston police as a "feared gang leader". Payne, a single mother of three, stated that she has put aside her life of crime and has changed her deviant behaviour.

"I don't want my children to make the same mistakes I made," she was quoted as saying. Her only plea is for a job or skills training to improve her way of life. I do hope that she finds some assistance soon.

May others like Sandre Malcolm and Sasha Payne follow suit and may more of us as young people be positive and bold in seeking to be change-makers in our society!

- Tamara McKayle

tmckayle246@gmail.com