Improving local agricultural infrastructure THE EDITOR, Sir: I WRITE to voice a need for urgency in the realm of the Government, and its responsibility to provide an agricultural infrastructure. The recent terrorist event in the US, serves to underline the very fragile nature of not only the tourist industry, but the Jamaican national economy geared around the export of Jamaican produce. For the week that the US closed its air space, Jamaica sat with its goods packaged and ready to go, and nowhere to send them. In much the same way that things couldn't leave, they couldn't come in. Where were we then to get basic food items, since we are having to import them. It is evident that our greatest challenge at this time has to be the issue of our agricultural infrastructure and the local economy associated with it. It is of note that the US is big enough to sustain itself for some time under siege conditions. We would not last for two weeks. It would be a reasonable consideration for the government to consider the provision of water for agricultural use. Water management is the new and upcoming paradigm in this time of expansive cities, so if the cities expand to use more water, then it will be necessary to find more water, or manage what we have to allow us to be able to feed ourselves, and maintain our living standards. It is a matter of utmost urgency to develop and implement a policy and infrastructure to put agricultural lands back into production, as well as devise a strategy for the crops we deem to be most beneficial to processing, storage and growth. Not necessarily in that order. Noting the uncertainty of the steps now being taken by the 'last' super power, it is well that we determine a way forward for ourself, independent of foreign aid loans and directives. It should be clear that if we were able to find the money locally to create FINSAC, then we should be able to find ways to fund the regeneration of the agricultural industry. The events of the past two weeks tell me that this course of action is not an option, but a given for our national identity, and if we are to avert a national crisis in the near future. As for tourism and the remittance industry, we should have learned that that basket is very fragile. We know the story of Humpty Dumpty. Our pretty advertisements cannot remove the view last week of Kamikaze airlines and the new fear of flying. So at this time, we should be defining the contingency plan. It seems to spell Jamaica first to me. If we think that it is not possible for Jamaica to find itself without food after a period of two weeks, so it was three weeks ago, when everyone in the world thought that the USA was invulnerable to such a devastating blow to its economy and prestige, as was wrought on this massive city of 7 million on September 11, 2001, the losses from which we'll still be counting for years to come. We should pay special attention to this lesson. I am etc., HUGH M. DUNBAR hmd-energy@erols.com West New York, New Jersey Via Go-Jamaica
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