The Editor, Sir:

The anti-poverty programme recently announced by the Prime Minister to be funded by the PetroCaribe Fund is nothing more than another window-dressing scheme being used to capture votes.

Unfortunately, the end result will not be an improvement in the situation, but on the contrary, a deepening of poverty. This is primarily because there are no serious structural anti-poverty programmes, only isolated and short-lived initiatives.

What I have observed is that there are varying and insufficient resources for the majority of government anti-poverty pro-grammes in Jamaica, and they do not attack the root causes of the problem.

I believe that the main problem is corruption, and that the government does not adequately account for the funds placed at their disposal, and hence many of the resources meant to be used to combat poverty are actually used to win votes.

To further compound this problem the Most Honourable is now going to employ persons based on sex rather than their ability. Wake up Jamaica and do not be fooled.

I am, etc.,

KAREN McPHERSON

lawless@cwjamaica.com

9 Roosevelt Avenue

Kingston