The Editor, Sir:

Western St. Thomas has been neglected for years and with the closure of the Goodyear factory the constituency and people of Western St Thomas have been abandoned, it would appear, by the present Government's national development plan.

Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the state of a community's infrastructure and the mental and social state of its inhabitants. Development plans involving water resources and energy needs should be pursued.

St. Thomas is blessed with three major rivers along with additional minor ones. These rivers are a potential source of energy in addition to the traditional uses for domestic, sanitation, industrial and irrigation purposes. A comprehensive water management programme could be developed to achieve the following objectives - production of hydro-electric power; development of irrigation systems with emphasis on the valley of western St. Thomas; a major distribution system for domestic water supply to all settlement areas; an inter-locking sewerage that will recycle sewage water for irrigation purposes; a drainage system that will incorporate the storage of drained water; development of lakes and ponds for the cultivation of fish.

Energy

The development and production of energy by way of solar or hydroelectric facilities, or the breakdown of organic matter should also be pursued.

Sir Alexander Bustamante in one of his famous speeches made the following comment and I quote, "What Jamaica needs now is practical and sympathetic men interested in the country and not charlatans and self-seekers making long speeches about nothing"

I am, etc.,

Dr. CHARLES DEMONTAQUE

charlesdemontaque@yahoo.co.uk

c/o 101 Weybrige Road

Addlestone Road, Surrey

United Kingdom

Via Go-Jamaica