The Editor, Sir:

We expect those endowed with a gift, be it intellectual or otherwise, to cultivate that gift and use it as a vehicle for excellence in life. So many of our public officials, and those who occupy positions of influence, use their privileged platforms for self-aggrandisement, political favour, advancing erudite nonsense and to exude arrogance.

In that regard it was so disappointing to hear Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna on Television Jamaica's evening news of Monday, August 31, blaming the Jamaica Labour Party administration for the decline in the bauxite and agricultural sectors resulting in the People's National Party's Region 1 being most severely affected. The reality is that even if Jamaica had its own alumina smelters, and manufactured motor vehicles, we would not be immune to the global economic slump. Miss Hanna knows that is the fact and so she doesn't have to embellish her speech with inaccurate information in order to elicit applause from a partisan PNP crowd.

The former beauty queen, with the global infectious charm, was either being deceitful or simply playing to the expectation of her constituents and upper echelon of her party.

Rely on politicians

Many of the people at that PNP conference accept what politicians say, without question or debate. They rely on politicians utterances to buttress their own entrenched political narrow-mindedness. And so, if Miss Hanna really hopes to etch a positive indelible impression on the minds of Jamaicans, especially the youth, for whom she has so much admiration and hope, then she must become a beacon of truth and enlightenment, even when others in her party are predisposed to act differently.

Jamaica already has enough fact-twisters, arguably led by Lambert Brown and Ralston Hyman. Therefore, we really yearn for people whose intellect is not enslaved by expedience, but who are masters of their consciences. Only then will they become relevant and credible to those who think and seek truth.

I am, etc.,

PETER A.P. GORDON

digmeup@yahoo.com

Williamsfield

Manchester