THE EDITOR, Sir:
NOW THAT the election date has been announced I am encouraging you, Mr. Prime Minister, and your team to stay on the high ground and articulate the issues that will move our country forward. I am hopeful that all Jamaican political leaders can sponsor a rich political and public dialogue on the pressing issues facing Jamaica.
I am also confident that everyday Jamaicans can comprehend these issues and make reasoned, informed choices concerning a broad range of important political issues if they are presented with clear, coherent, and distinguishable policy proposals and alternatives by our political parties.
As the world's economy marches towards globalisation our fellow Jamaicans need to be engaged in debating globalisation's effect on the poor in our country. Although globalisation is seemingly inevitable and will affect Jamaican politics, national economic well being, societal order, and culture; our political parties have not devoted an adequate amount of attention to the matter. Our political leaders should engage our citizenry in discussions of fundamental issues posed by globalisation. What does globalisation have to offer Jamaica?
I strongly believe that our nation needs to realise the power of globalisation and the need to bring government closer to the people in this rapidly changing global economic environment. For our nation to understand the power of globalisation, we need to concentrate on the power of decentralisation, that is, getting our citizens involved as active participants in their own development and defining their own future.
Mr. Prime Minister, please take the lead in an attempt to initiate a political and public dialogue that seeks to challenge, educate and empower the citizenry to make political choices regarding the shape and content of globalisation in Jamaica.
I am etc.,
NEVILLE COOKE
prinkle4850@yahoo.com
Austin, Texas
Via Go-Jamaica
