Edward Seaga stated, "The external budget offers more difficult options. Increasing export performance from the existing base revolves, first, around further growth in tourism to whatever extent there is additional development possibilities."

Don Wehby stated (regarding the creation of an International Financial Centre in Jamaica), "We have allowed this opportunity to pass us by previously, but we shall not let it pass us again."

It would seem evident that even when we have the vision, we are too laid back/too satisfied to implement the vision for the betterment of all.

Port Royal and downtown Kingston development: Imagine a re-created pirate port that was once the capital and the richest city in the world. At this point, it doesn't really matter where the money is sourced, as long as the controls are in place for legality. We should go ahead now and create this vision so that when the global recession is receding, Jamaica is ready to take advantage of opportunities of people's continued desire to travel. Do it now, and we create jobs and employment for thousands and help ease the burden felt by so many in Jamaica.

Annoying to hear

The International Financial Centre: Am I the only one tired of hearing about this? We could have been so well advanced in providing this for the world that it is annoying to hear it being brought up again. Just go ahead and deal with it. Walk the talk.

Mr Jamaica, Abe Issa, was a true visionary and the instigator for Jamaica becoming such a tourist destination. In his day, against all the negative voices and doomsayers, he stood firm and pushed tourism as a major foreign exchange earner. Do the people of Jamaica realise how our island was viewed then?

Since we really don't have much else to offer (oil, gold, precious metals etc) now is the time to source the finances to ensure that the natural beauty of our island and people once more become the envy of the world, and that we become the destination choice for those wanting a holiday. This is not rocket science, just an application of basic common-sense principles that seem somewhat to be sorely lacking.

I am etc.,

Nicholas Stephenson

stephensonnicholas@hotmail.com

Gordon Town, St Andrew