THE EDITOR, Madam:
AS THE producers of Royal Palm Estate, we write in response to a recent article in the Showbiz section of Sunday Gleaner dated January 21, 2001.
It has become common practice in Jamaica to heap praise on anything foreign in preference to anything home-grown. A glaring example of this was evident in an article headlined 'Jamaicans' addiction to 'soaps', written by Orville Clarke.
The writer ended the piece with the line - "We in Jamaica also have our home-grown soap in Royal Palm Estate which could well be as popular as the imported ones."
Royal Palm Estate is not only the most popular soap, but is indeed the most popular television series in Jamaica local or foreign. This applies to all three television stations.
The evidence is provided in the Mediatrak All-media Survey which was conducted under the leadership of Rowena Coe in the year 2000.
Royal Palm Estate has remained at the top of the heap for the past six years due to the excellent work of its cast and crew. The show continues to find and nurture new stars for the small screen while providing top-class entertainment for all of Jamaica on Sunday nights. Let us be supportive of our own indigenous productions rather than jump to creating crowns for anything from "far-een". We continue to denigrate many Jamaican products only to reclaim them after they were accorded respect abroad.
I am, etc.,
Lennie Little-White
Producer
Royal Palm Estate
