The August 5 column might be inappropriately titled 'May Day ... ' but the story clearly states that even though the plane was "in air space when the crack was discovered on the windshield ... there was no emergency, nobody was at risk and the pilot safely returned to Kingston," Bruce Nobles, president and CEO of Air Jamaica, told The Gleaner. Again I state as in my initial response to this story, Air Jamaica apparently has some of the best pilots in the air. Thanks be to God and kudos to the pilot and crew who responded appropriately and landed the plane and passengers safely and without incident.

Dorothy Bailey

blidorot@aol.com

Joseph Matalon, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, is to be congratulated on his promised help to the Government. This is somewhat like the Japanese Keiretsu, an alliance of businesses, banks and Government, for the successful development of all three entities. Matalon is also correct about building Jamaica's agricultural and manufacturing bases. The way to achieve wealth has always been by your own two hands plus creativity and hard work.

Dr Joseph Wint

I write in reference to an article published in your newspaper on Monday, August 3, headlined 'The EU and abortion'. Please allow me to draw your readers' attention to a statement issued by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) on March 6 this year. The statement was in response to similar sentiments against the EU. The PIOJ letter states clearly that "no programme has been entered into or is being negotiated by the Government of Jamaica with the European Commission or United States Agency for International Development in which the legalisation of abortion or homosexuality is a condition for release of resources or for signature of an agreement, nor has any such request been made by these organisations".

Jodi Brown Lindo

Press and information officer

Delegation of the European Commission to Jamaica