Are we going to slavishly follow everything that America does? Let's face it, a horrendous economic meltdown has the entire world in its grip, so America starts laying off workers and what do we do? We start laying off workers. For God's sake, we are Jamaicans, we are not followers, we are leaders, and here is a glorious opportunity to show the world the way forward.

One objective

My good friend, Omar Azan in a recent speech showed one of the ways employers need not follow-fashion by demonstrating instead that they can be compassionate as well as businesslike. He recommended staggering the workweek - one week on, one week off; Berger followed next by reducing salaries by 20 per cent - that is a Jamaican initiative of which we can all be proud.

Our employers need to have one objective - to preserve every job that existed before the melt-down. This will require creative thought, for example, where possible, in a five-day week, extend it to a sixday week, with workers sharing three days each - in each initiative devise ways to utilise the funds set aside for redundancy payments.

It will also require sacrifice on the part of those, who, in a layoff scenario would be retained, but here again, there is nothing which more brings out the 'good neighbour' streak in Jamaicans as a time of crisis. (See our post-hurricane conduct.) We are in crisis and to avoid anarchy, we must all ensure that all who are currently employed are able to meet the basic needs of existence.

Smaller pie

Let's face it, the pie has got smaller, we have to devise ways (and we can) to share that reduced pie, so that no jobs are lost, and I repeat, it is better that all be able to put food on the table, than some not being able to and others continue as if nothing has happened.

So, we must all cooperate to ensure that not one job is lost during this crisis and thereby give America and the world something to copy from us for a change. If no other country in the world is able to, let Jamaica fulfil its destiny by "playing her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race".

I am, etc.,

HOWARD HAMILTON, QC

Kingston