The Editor, Sir:

Last month I had the privilege of taking my son to the clinic in my community for one of his medical shots. After registration, I was sent to the cashier. When I asked about the cost of my son's medical shots, a lady shouted from behind me 'yuh no see say it free; Sister P free up health care'. Wow, this was wonderful, but how much would it cost if it were not free?

I was informed that the cost would have been $300. I don't think any beneficiary of such a programme would dare question where the government got all this money to pay for free health care. After all, it was for poor people.

Too much for poor people

Some days ago the party in opposition reaffirmed their commitment to tuition-free education. This also sounded wonderful. How much more would it cost a poor parent like me if it were not free? I have gathered that the cost would be around $5,000. Some people have argued that this is really bad. After all, the poor people will not value education if they pay less money for it (can you say the same for health care?); the country does not have all this money to pay for such expenses (but it has money to pay for other things); and free tuition at whose expense (as always the same people who cannot evade the tax net)? Well, is a $5,000 discount on educational expenses too much to give to poor people?

I have come to realise that whenever things are done for the poor there are grand announcements, big furores, and the hardships come after. Many times the electorate is misguided. The hidden facts come to light long after the dust has settled and life is back to normal. So let us have real national debates NOW where all the relevant questions can be asked on national television, and real answers given by the contenders for political office.

Where did or will all this money come from to pay for all these elaborate schemes? Where is the plan for continuity? What is the real value of free health care in a country where medical resources are woefully inadequate? What is the real value of free tuition in a situation where classrooms are overcrowded, learning resources are inadequate and teachers are grossly underpaid?

To be frank, if it's going to be a lot more costly in the near future to pay for the 'free medical care', I am willing to go and pay that $300 right now to whoever it came from. After all, for poor people there are no free rides.

I am, etc.,

LEIGHTON McINTYRE

Santa Cruz P.O.

St. Elizabeth

Via Go-Jamaica

mr_mcinty@yahoo.com