Our sugar, banana, bauxite, coffee and tourism sectors are all collapsing or have collapsed. What we need in order to overcome these problems is exceptional leadership.

Some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. In which of these categories do you fall, Mr Golding?

On June 3, a leader was elected in a country that had recently received its independence from Britain. It didn't have:

Thriving tourism industry

sugar industry

coffee industry

bauxite industry

manufacturing sector of note

banana industry

oil or natural gas and had very limited land space and lacked natural resources.

What it did have in abundance was the greatest resource there is, its people and their strong work ethic. Their leader began earnestly to look around for countries that were in the process of economic development and which had a similar size and demography and from which he could learn.

Accomplishments

Today, this country's list of accomplishments are phenomenal.

1) Its nationals studying abroad are among the top five in the top First-World universities and they return home after completing their studies.

2) It is the premier pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical development hub in Asia.

3) It is one of the top oil-refining centres in the world (remember they don't have oil).

4) It is one of the top-three oil trading and price discovery centres in the world.

5) It is among the top 10 petrochemical hubs in the world.

6) It is home to eight of the world's top 10 flavours and fragance companies.

7) Its gross national income is US$51,000 and yearly budget surplus is US$10 billion.

It has a safe environment, relatively low taxes, no 'dons', no ghettos and no garrisons. I believe all of this can be accomplished by Jamaica with exceptional leadership; it is not beyond us.

I am, etc.,

MARK CLARKE

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com

Siloah PO St Elizabeth