The Editor, Sir:

This is an open letter to the Prime Minister.

Dear Prime Minister,

One of the many things that the Jamaica Labour Party was well known for under the stewardship of the former leader, Mr Edward Seaga, is city beautification. (Do you remember what Mandeville looked like in the '70s led by former Mayor Charlton?)

Along with the economic and crime difficulties that the country now faces, the lack of civic pride is very much rampant, particularly in the capital cities.

What I would like to propose, sir, can be seen as a mammoth task, but certainly not an impossible one: the cleanliness and beautification of our parish capitals. New Kingston - Trafalgar Road, Knutsford Boulevard, the entrance to Lord Nelson Road off Trafalgar Road - can be seen as models that can be used.

Business community

Money collected by the parish councils and volunteers from the business community in each parish, and with contribution from central government, could make this exercise a real possibility.

As a result, citizens and visitors alike could enjoy and more so appreciate the beauty, cleanliness and tranquility of the parish in particular and Jamaica as a whole.

I am, etc.,

JUNIOR CAMPBELL

crankhangle@yahoo.co.uk.