THE EDITOR, Sir:
K.C. SOARES' article in The Gleaner recently, regarding what I consider to be every Government's seemingly inexplicable death-grip on sugar cane in this country, is one of the best I have recently read.
Today, there is an article on the front page about rice imported by Jamaica from the USA and Asia because it is cheaper for the consumer than the rice from other Caribbean/CARICOM nations. There is a connection here, which is happily for those who benefit from it, invisible to the majority of our Jamaican people.
Of course, the connection is simple - votes. The continuation of the insupportable and unprofitable sugar cane is being used as fishing rods to catch votes from an ignorant and oppressed people. The continuation of the importation of cheaper rice keeps the voting public happy, and after all, it's the votes that count in the end, no matter what.
The relinquishing of long-held and precious power must not be contemplated. Whoever gets to be in charge, makes the same deadly mistakes as the ones who went before. It is individual selfishness and lack of foresight and innovation by those in charge that is preventing meaningful progress here in Jamaica.
The Caribbean Court of Justice naturally appeals to the majority of voters too - down with England, the Queen, the white people and so on. It's all simply a matter of "manipulation of the masses" as a means to an end. It's dishonest and detestable, and it's destroying us.
I am, etc.,
SADAN TAYAD
