If one looks at the size of the Cabinet it is within the norms of the operation of any government with Jamaica's population. How-ever, if one were to ask: Is the Cabinet operating at an optimal level? The answer is a big NO! In fact, one could elaborate and say apart from Haiti and Zimbabwe, Jamaica has one of the least efficacious ministerial structures in the world.

How did we get there?

No private company could have endured the type of trauma the ministerial structure goes through when successive governments - of the People's National Party and Jamaica Labour Party - in a quest to leave their mark decimate entire ministries, ministry governance structures and names without analysing the way forward.

Corporate structure

Just think about it, what if GraceKennedy were to change its name with every change in government? Chances are Grace would not be a household brand. What if Grace were to change its corporate structure after every change in government? The company would be as bankrupt and dysfunctional as every Jamaican government since independence.

Before Prime Minister Bruce Golding starts transforming ministries, I would suggest to him the need for permanence. We need 'permanent' ministry names so that these ministries become part of our political heritage. I would go further to say that the ministry names should be affable, given our dependence on tourism. For example, it is time that we change the name of the Ministry of National Security to something more tourism-friendly like Ministry of Home Affairs. Next, he should study what to do - don't just do it because of the critics.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL BROWN

miguelbro@yahoo.com

Washington, DC