THE EDITOR, Madam:
THIS IS a response to a letter which appeared in The Daily Gleaner of June 17, 2000, captioned "Plague of unprofessional real estate agents".
Carl Bliss has made grave allegations against the professional group of which we the members of the Realtors Association of Jamaica are a part.
We have no evidence that Mr. Bliss contacted any member of our association.
Given the high level of training to which our members are exposed and the strict Code of Ethics to which we must adhere, it is unlikely that Mr. Bliss would have had the negative experience he related if he had contacted any member of the Realtors Association of Jamaica.
Our members strive for and maintain high professional standards. Incidentally, the late Donald Stiebel, for whom Mr. Bliss had high commendations, was a long-standing member, rising to the level of president of this association.
Mr. Bliss's broad-brush, image-tarnishing comments are most unfortunate. We wish to inform him that the licensed practitioners - dealers and salespersons - in the real estate profession throughout Jamaica, at March 2000, was 456, which constitute the group.
His comment that the group is "one of the most inefficient and ineffective" is unfounded, unfair, misleading and irresponsible. If, in fact, he has had the negative experiences he relates, with a few unlicensed "hustlers", then he should confine his comments to those persons.
Finally, Mr. Bliss may contact the Realtors Association of Jamaica on matters relating to its members or the Real Estate Board, which is the regulatory body of real estate dealers and salespersons in Jamaica. Alternatively, Mr. Bliss may check on our list of members through our Web site at www.realtors-ja.com.
I am, etc.,
GORDON LANGFORD
Secretary
Realtors Association of Jamaica
