The Editor, Sir:

The news is out! The Cockpit Country debacle is not just a nine-day wonder. Those who believed that they could keep silent and it would go away after the people have grown tired of it are in for a rude awakening. Too many times in Jamaica the dirt is quietly swept underneath the rug. This situation seems to be a mudslide, too much rain is falling and the bare hillsides are there for all to see.

What is also strange is the response from the politburo, those from the Government side who have spoken on this subject to me are like weather balloons. What is needed is the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to address this matter, which is of serious consequences to the future of Jamaica. If the Trafigura Affair created so many debates then this is much more far-reaching than that. Every Jamaican should make certain that their voices are heard. I truly believe we can invoke the quote 'Vox Populi Vox Dei'. (The voice of the people is the voice of God) in this one.

General election this year

This is very simple, there must be a general election this year. Let the people decide this issue with a plebiscite during that election. I am curious to know how educated is the Jamaican populace on this issue, and what would be the outcome of a plebiscite. This is something all our pollsters should be able to get right and lead the politicians to make the conclusive decision. I am hoping that out of this Jamaicans will start to understand how to address issues, not in a partisan way, but to honestly seek out what is best for the country.

To have mining in the Cockpit Country to me is horrendous. Money is not everything to most people, there are things that are priceless and the Cockpit Country is one of them. Can you imagine some enterprising entrepreneur wanting to capture the steam coming out of geysers at Yellowstone National Park for electricity production and closing the park to visitors! Or someone wanting to buy Central Park in New York to build luxury condominiums? The American people would be outraged at those proposals.

There are things that every nation holds dear and we must make certain that ours are dug from under our feet. It was Cato the Elder who said. "Those who are serious in ridiculous matters are ridiculous in serious matters." This is a time we have to be serious in serious matters.

I am, etc.,

RAY G. STENNETT

ray4rs2000@aol.com

PO Box 809

Larchmont, NY

Via Go-Jamaica