The Editor, Sir:

I read with great interest the recent solutions to Jamaica's social and economic problems as offered by Dr. Bert Barr, who identifies himself as a real doctor from an accredited university.

Doctor of what, pray tell? Surely, he cannot be a medical doctor. I would not want to be treated by a medical practitioner who suggests that spiking the nation's water with valium is the cure for aggresive behaviour. How can this improve productivity and punctuality if the entire nation is falling asleep? Dr. Barr, please wake up and smell the coffee. Benzodiazepine drugs are not the answer.

Middle Passage again?

Nor is surrendering ourselves to the whims and fancies of a First World country. There are very few that I see setting a good example, in any case. We might just be forced to fight silly wars or find ourselves on the Middle Passage again.

Yes, many of our politicians have agendas that do not seek to foster peace or productivity in Jamaica. Partisan politics has held us back in many ways, but a fundamental problem is the unjustifiably high expectation that we have of our leaders. Crudely put, we cannot expect them to provide us with toilets and then flush them for us too. We need to stop fighting one another and learn to think for ourselves, and be productive without expecting hand-me-downs (including guns).

If anything, Dr. Barr has given us a wake-up call and a reason to be hopeful. If anyone from an 'accredited' university can come and suggest such foolish solutions to our problems, then there must be scope for the viable suggestions of our own intelligent people to come to fruition.

Our crime problem

For our crime problem, I would suggest better wages for our police officers, harsher prison sentences for criminals, dedicated attempts at rehabilitating juvenile offenders, and community service for those on probation. If we could find innovative ways to keep the nation's brightest and best teachers in our schoolrooms, then we would see top class results at all levels. Finally, our young people learn by example. We need to hold on to the moral principles outlined in the Bible, and concentrate on rebuilding the family unit.

If we can do this, then crime, aggression and low productivity would be a thing of the past, and no one would then have the nerve to suggest that we should learn a few lessons from Barbados. I have nothing against that island, but I believe we are capable of writing our own lesson plan.

I am, etc.,

Dr. SHARON CHAMBERS

shrspk@aol.com

London, England

Via Go-Jamaica