The Editor, Sir:
We do not know how many persons saw and read the article in the June 8, Sunday Gleaner under the heading 'Grants Pen needs sustained development.'
Emphasised in the article was the following:
"The residents of Grants Pen want social and economic transformation, and not the transformation of a physical space. We missed the mark because we did not focus on the things the residents told us they wanted."
The article was presented by a development consultant whose firm has done consulting assignments for several donors and agencies who have worked or are currently working in the Grants Pen area.
The spirit
We quote from an article in a UNDP publication ... "people are the spirit of any city. They provide the energy, the labour and the life that make cities function. When development initiatives come from the people THEY BECOME THE DOERS, and feel that the development of the larger environment is part of their communities, part of their lives ... part of their achievement."
These comments relate to a success story in the Far East where a group of poor people working together did great things for their community. Our organisation ( Action 2000) is in complete agreement with the development consultant, and we are in the process of initiating steps which will ensure that in whatever we do, the wishes of the people are met.
Different views
While the wishes of the people in different communities should be respected, we are of the opinion that for the social and economic transformation to be the success that is required, there should be different views put forward, and there should be mutual agreement as to the way forward, which should be for the benefit of the entire nation.
Working behind the scenes we have been making contact with local residents, and also residents in the diaspora, inviting their input, and one of the points put forward by a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is that there should be what is referred to as a 'declaration of national unity', and this is being put together for presentation at an early date.
We are, etc.,
Ocidel Holdings Ltd
in association with
Outer Cities Development,
P.O. Box 97, Kingston 10
email: jaderapov@yahoo.com
