THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN YOUR issue of November 28 headlined 'Government running scared' the Hon. Edward Seaga predicted a catastrophic financial upheaval. He accused the Patterson Government of rushing through legislation such as the Anti-Terrorism Bill in preparation for possible public protests. Does this predicted financial upheaval mean bankruptcy for Jamaica? Why hasn't the Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance rebutted this prediction by Mr. Seaga.
I have invested my life's savings with the Government. Am I in jeopardy of losing it? When the JLP lost the last election, Mr. Seaga promised to oppose, oppose until the PNP Government falls. While Mr. Seaga is predicting financial ruin, MP Audley Shaw is calling on Finance Minister Omar Davies to repeal taxes. Are we seeing the oppose, oppose plan in progress? Propaganda and misinformation brought down Michael Manley's Government of the '80s and ruined the economy.
Jamaica is still in recovery. In North America, there is a criminal offence called Parental Abuse by Proxy, a so-called syndrome, whereby a parent, usually a mother, would intentionally make the child sick, just to nurse him or her back to health to prove her ability to care. Is there such a syndrome in politics?
Recently Mr. Seaga and Prime Minister Patterson came together and unified their approach to the problems of education. Why can't they do the same for the economy? Mr. Seaga seems bent on becoming Prime Minister one more time. Would it not be better to take over for the last time a thriving economy rather than a bankrupt one?
What amazes me, amidst the gloom and doom predictions, is that certain sections of the society are having a wonderful time. Since mid-November every bank, insurance company, manufacturing company, security company, name it, are having lavish pre-Xmas parties and handing out awards. If these expenditures are tax-deductible, the Government loses revenue. It seems to me the patriotic thing for these corporate Neros to have done was to postpone these wasteful events, pay more taxes and help the charities. But who cares, they skipped town once and will do so again.
I am, etc.,
SIDNEY ELLIOTT
Kingston 19
