The Editor, Sir:

One of the many faults of this country is that we do not listen to each other. We tend to talk at each other and so knowledge is hardly ever gained from a conversation.

One of the main culprits is the government and its various agencies. If the National Works Agency had listened to the people in St. Mary that the bridge was too low, the flooding would not have taken place.

I think this agency learned a great deal from this debacle. Various persons called in to the radio stations complaining about a tree that was a danger to motorists and pedestrians on the Golden Spring Road.

They said they were told that there was no imminent danger, but to my surprise I heard an announcement from them that the road was going to be closed for a period to cut down this tree. It is only a pity that they did not do the same thing about the bridge in St. Mary.

One thing our government must learn is to give good governance and this does not mean handing out largesse, but to try and take care of the ones who are in greatest need.

From time to time, you see on the TV various requests from families for funds to pay for life-saving operations.A lot of these appeals deal with ailments of children and it is quite evident that we have the equipment and expertise in Jamaica to do these operations.

I would like to find out from the Minister of Health if the consultants/surgeons are not paid by government for these major operations.

If the government pays these fees why are these horrendous charges being made?

I am, etc.,

BARBARA COVER

Kingston 6