The Editor, Sir:

Our country, arguably, is experiencing its hardest period since Independence. Our economy has been in tatters for decades and now it is seemingly unravelling.

As a people and a country, unfortunately, we have become comfortable with seeing bullet-riddled bodies; we have become comfortable with corruption invading every facet of our society. It is because of this that I encourage every well-thinking individual on this rock to demand that instead of the respective political parties holding midget party conferences disguised as town hall meetings, this divisive approach should be immediately abandoned and national unity conferences held instead. At least one conference should be held in each county.

No party colours

At these conferences, absolutely no party colours should be tolerated. The dress code must either be neutral colours or the black, green and gold of the Jamaican flag. Nor should there be any party flags, only the Jamaican flag. We need national unity conferences where the terms 'labourite' and 'comrades' are substituted with 'fellow Jamaicans'.

We need a national conference where both prime minister and opposition leader, ministers and their respective counterparts sit at the same table. We need a national conference where the truth is disseminated effectively and not curtailed for political mileage.

We need a national conference where every Jamaican, male and female, rich and poor, young and old, is made aware of where we are as a nation and what it will take to get us to where we need to be.

We need national unity conferences where frank and honest discourse is facilitated and where the needs of our country and its people are not circumvented. This may sound like wishful thinking but, nevertheless, I am optimistic because we urgently need it.

I am, etc.,

NOEL MATHERSON

coco.noel@yahoo.com St Elizabeth