THE EDITOR, Sir:

We the well-thinking people of Jamaica have been given a look at the reason for Jamaica's failure as a nation since Independence - the promotion, implementation and sustenance of tribal politics.

Those who heard the blatant and deliberate promotion of tribal, ghetto politics, worst of all those in our Parliament, must have cringed and bowed their heads in shame if they at any time subscribed so openly to that degrading type of politics and politicians.

I am still wondering if most of us realise that the lack of investment from both inside and outside our country - poverty, crime in the form of stealing, murder, shooting and the general mayhem constantly being perpetrated all over our country - has its roots and gets its sustenance from tribal politics.

The politician or government which gets rid of this scourge from our land - will never lose another election.

Jamaica needs at this time more than any other time, intelligent visionaries to help rescue it from the decadence and sloth in which it is enmeshed at present - caused by (in my humble opinion) bad politics and bad politicians.

Lest we forget, we are not Labourites and Comrades; we are Jamaicans first and foremost and at any cost should remain just that.

The means to sustain tribal politics is not merely the pork barrel, but the worst thing of all is the gun. When the gun entered our politics we started too close to descend into depravity, and have become a seemingly doomed nation. The huge job is to rebuild one sweet, nice nation and I suggest that we start by revamping our politics. We have to commence some place, and at some time. Let it be there, let it be now.

I am, etc.,

RONEY G. HAMILTON

Walderston P.O.

Manchester