The Editor, Sir:

I met Bruce Golding once, at Gordon House, many years ago when on one of my sojourns to Jamaica. I interviewed him for an article that was published in The Star looking at leadership through the eyes of three prominent politicians of the time - Mr. Golding of the JLP, the late Tony Spaulding of the PNP, and Professor Trevor Munroe, then leader of the Workers' Party of Jamaica. I was very impressed with Mr. Golding's views and am not surprised at his victory today.

The result of the general election on September 3 is a true reflection of the soul of the country at this time, and the spiritual manifestations that guide human life that so many of us refuse to recognise, ridicule, orare oblivious to. The victory of the JLP causes every Jamaican and particularly the political leadership to contemplate the style and substance of leadership and governance that modern Jamaica needs.

political home

I believe that if more Jamaicans had a similar experience as mine - growing up in Jamaica with a father who was a die-hard Labourite, having struggled at the side of Alexander Bustamante and others in the 1938 labour struggles that transformed Jamaica, and a mother who was a staunch PNP supporter mainly because of the PNP's democraticising of education that made it possible for me and thousands to get a good education at one of the leading high schools - they would be more appreciative, respectful and tolerant of each other. My parents loved each other and were married for over 40 years, despite their political difference.

Tackle social maladies

The top leadership of Jamaica has swung from one representing a garrison constituency that has some of the most depressing poverty and high crime rates, to one representing another garrison community that is identified with gunmanship, donmanship and widespread poverty.

For a start, for a new and better Jamaica, these two leaders should unite to tackle these social maladies that rob their constituencies of development and obstruct Jamaica's development on a whole. Jamaica is a nation of First-World potential but saddled with Third-World management and implemen-tation. It's time now, as signalled by the electorate, to progress with First-World attitudes.

Finally, I congratulate all the victors, but in particular, two of my friends, Laurie Broderick of the JLP, and Ronnie Thwaites of the PNP. Jamaica will be the better from their participation in Parliament. God bless Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

JULIAN 'JINGLES' REYNOLDS

Jreynolds9@optonline.net

New York, U.S.A.