The Editor, Sir:

A synergy of social and economic policies must be vigorously pursued if Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is serious about poverty alleviation and inner-city socio-economic revitalisation.

The very influential, Harvard University sociology professor and former advisor to President Bill Clinton, William J. Wilson, builds strong cases for building social capital within communities. His Harvard colleague, Michael E. Porter, agrees with his arguments, but believes that this social capital must be coupled with rebuilding the economic base of the community.

Today, many of our best and brightest choose to leave the communities of their birth to pursue lives in wider metropolitan areas. Successful and educated inner-city residents are no longer living in the neighbourhoods where they grew up. They are increasingly moving to upscale neighbourhoods of the middle and upper-middle classes. One researcher calls this confluence of negative social and economic conditions, the precursors for inner-city blight.

Serious challenge

Stemming the tide of social capital flight from our inner cities poses a serious challenge. If former inner-city residents of legitimate means, return to the inner city to develop businesses, become involved in the social life of the community and find the political will necessary to change communities, our inner cities will be transformed. Unfortunately, many leave our inner cities in great numbers because of political and economic victimisation; residential discrimination; social disorder; crime and poor physical amenities.

Community development and economic development must be addressed simultaneously in order to truly revitalise inner-city communities.

I am, etc.,

DELROY SCARLETT

dhsscarlett@yahoo.com

St. Andrew