The Editor, Sir:

Almost every evening we watch the news on television, we see reports of disgruntled citizens across communities in Jamaica, protesting over the lack of water, poor road conditions, crime, violence and also parents soliciting money from the public to help pay for their children's medical bills.

All or most of these problems could have been solved if it weren't for the waste, corruption and the numerous money scandals of the government that has been in power for the past 17 years.

Let me remind Jamaicans of where some of the money has gone which could have taken care of their many basic needs.

1. Zinc scandal (1989) $500 million; (2). Shell waiver scandal (1991) $29.5 million; (3). Furniture scandal (1991) $10.6 million; (4). Operation Pride/NHDC (1997) $5.5 billion (projected); (5). Public Sector salary scandal (1998) $60 million; (6). JPSCo overcharge (1998) $85 million; (7). Netserv scandal (2001) $220 million; (8) National Solid Waste scandal (2005) $2 billion;(9) Sandals Whitehouse scandal (2006) US $43.3 million.

This Government is a liability, the longer they stay in power, the more it will cost the taxpayers of Jamaica due to the monetary mismanagement, reckless spending and corruption that prevails!

It's time for a change!

I am, etc.,

J. WILCOX

St. Andrew