The Editor, Sir:

This is an open letter to the Prime minister-designate.

Dear Mr. Golding:

Along with many others, I offer my sincere congratulations for a well-thought-out and executed campaign and the cool-headed, diplomatic and sensitive way that you have handled the many difficulties that have inevitably emerged along the way.

In your speech on Monday night, you emphasised, as on other occasions, the need for national unity and for people on both sides to participate in the rebuilding of this country.

I would like to make two practical suggestions in this vein, and a wish.

First, a lot of time, expertise and hard work are thrown out of the window following each change of government. Members of all government-appointed boards have to offer their resignations and the new ministers bring in a completely new set of people (some of whom are being rewarded for favours), to take over with very little carry-over of expertise. In some cases, boards are completely abolished.

keep some of the experts

I would like to suggest to you Mr. Golding, that all boards should be asked to continue until an adequate assessment of their performance has been made, and even then, some persons with proven expertise and significant contribution be kept on, regardless of their particular political colour.

Second, the PNP has been in for 18 years and has a huge record of achievement in many areas that are not politically sensitive. Why not keep on some of these technocrats who have developed deep expertises in areas of development that would lose momentum if they are now suddenly removed from their positions? I will refrain from naming some of these because my knowledge may not be accurate.

My wish is related to the progress that has been made in the area of changing attitudes and approaches to people with disabilities. Those of us who work in this field are very much aware of the fact that we usually have to start all over again when leaders change. The last government was in the fore of the changes taking place on the international scene and translating experience at that level into action at the national level. Thus, we have:

1. Jamaica being the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

2. A new act which has been put forward to legislate the National policy on people with Disabilities.

3. The plans for Jamaica to become a first-world country by 2030, has a task force on disability.

Please do not allow us to fall back on this area of progress.

I wish your new executive great wisdom, impartiality and the abandonment of petty political or self-serving manoeuvres in the choices you make over the next few months.

DR. MARIGOLD J. THORBURN,

marigold@kasnet.com

25 Paddington Terrace,

Kingston 6