The Editor, Sir:

I note the recent comments by the Minister of Finance regarding the performance of the Jamaican economy in 2006. The minister sought to ascribe reasons for this namely, construction projects, low unemployment, etc.

But what the minister failed to point out, (based on what was carried in the media) is that one of the main hindrances to economic growth on a yearly basis is the negative effects of natural disasters on the Jamaican economy.

Fortunately, the island experienced no major disasters of national significance in 2006. This would have allowed the economy to recover from the effects of previous disasters, thus shortening the development lag.

In essence, we are catching up with where we should have been, had the previous disasters such as Hurricane Ivan ,et al, not impacted the Jamaican landscape. I would like to suggest to the minister that this sort of data needs to be added to the analysis in order to arrive at a true position of where we really are to develop mentally as a country.

I am, etc.,

CHRISTOPHER GAYLE

christez3@yahoo.com