I read your editorial and nodded quite a few times. Indeed, as was pointed out, it is a time for finding national consensus on the way forward. And the emphasis should be on really moving beyond tribalism. We are really tired of it. The entire process (if we can call it that) reeks of a lack of integrity. It is not a time to block roads or burn tyres. The PNP's response in this regard is tribalistic. They are part of the problem too, as some of this started before.

So this is a time to engage in meaningful national dialogue to come up with a national plan. Which made me think of the role of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). How come this organisation has not come forward to offer the government solutions, especially in light of the fact that Mr Golding doesn't seem to have a hand on decisive leadership and Mr Shaw does not seem to have a hand on common sense?

Unthinking and cruel

If the PIOJ's mission is to "lead the process of policy formulation on economic and social issues and external cooperation management to achieve sustainable development for the people of Jamaica", it means they had a hand in the negotiations with the IMF. Albeit, under revision, the tax proposals, were unthinking and cruel to every class of Jamaican, especially the poor. Have they or had they nothing to say in all this? Now that Mr Golding and his fragmented team are revising, I hope that this will present an opportunity for bold advice to come forward, and for humility on Mr Golding's and Mr Shaw's part, to not just listen but to make sound decisions that really move beyond tribalism, and embrace Jamaica.

This time, it is about us, the nation; and on that note, I hope that those in the private sector will also be willing to move beyond entitlement and show their patriotism and shoulder some of the hardship that is ahead of us.

I am, etc,

Rebekah Lawrence