THE EDITOR, Sir:

IT APPEARS that the Prime Minister could take a few lessons from her new-found colleague, Ms. Verna Parchment. Within three years of her election, the rookie Opposition MP from St. Ann got lots of goodies for her constituents. By her own admission, she did not distribute them evenly, but, as she says, "Mi get whey mi want."

On the other hand, after more than a quarter of a century of representation, most of the time as a Cabinet Minister, Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller was unable to get anything substantial for her constituency. It is only now that she is Prime Minister that, in her words, "I have the chance and I am going to do something about South-West St. Andrew."

Jamaica should rejoice at South-West St. Andrew's promised good fortune. It is just that we have to be wary of the statement attributed to the PM: "I now don't have to beg that things are done. Now I instruct that things are done." Hopefully, in giving these instructions, she will not behave like Ms. Parchment and let kisses go by favour.

I am, etc.,

KEN JONES

alllerdyce@hotmail.com