Thank God for Alpart

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE RECENT concerted attacks on Alpart even blocking their train lines should make everyone who loves Jamaica's progress very concerned.

I am the first to concede that the industry, like most others, brings with it some measure of environmental problems which everyone knows the company spends millions of dollars to deal with. I must however, remind the community of the saying, "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs". Instead of an attacking approach, my advice to anyone who has a genuine case, is to enter into dialogue with the company, not the 'try to make a money out of them', approach and I am positive that they will ensure complaints are dealt with fairly and squarely.

Lest we forget, I would like to remind the community that several years ago when Alpart closed down, Nain became a ghost town. The effect was a crippling one on the entire community, adjoining parishes and the country at large.

Alpart has a tremendous community service. I know of individuals who started with nothing and made a good life for themselves on leased lands, planting scallion and thyme.

When Alpart's predecessors came to St. Elizabeth and started buying lands from farmers for bauxite mining, most of these farmers migrated to England with proceeds of land sales. They made a life for themselves and it is some members of this same group who are now returning, building big houses and doing business all around. This has a ripple effect, generating economic activities; also, most of those who are away contribute significantly to the massive remittances that are coming into Jamaica, which is playing such a pivotal role in our economic survival.

So in spite of the problems, let us thank God for Alpart and all the other bauxite companies, for they have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans, directly and indirectly in a positive way.

It behoves us to change our attitude and let Alpart feel their motto means something to us, 'Partners in Jamaica's Progress'.

I am, etc.,

GRATEFUL COMMUNITY

Member.

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