My fellow Jamaicans, consider a few things. The People's National Party has managed to remain in power for 18 years. During these 18 years, the country has seen the following: International Monetary Fund loans, loss of position in the global marketplace, increased unemployment, grossly devalued dollar and an unbearable increase in criminal activity.

The extent to which these occurrences are the fault of one party are not all clear. What is clearer is the fact that there have not been any improvements brought to bear on these issues.

So ask yourself, when you do not want to change course, is it because the course you are on, satisfies your needs or is it because you like a stubborn submarine see no way out while the enemy attacks, so we continue full speed ahead?

As a current outsider, wanting to return home and make some useful contributions, I beg all of you, please change course!

- Dee Pea, Ontario, Canada

I read the editorial which said the Prime Minster was hasty in declaring a state of emergency. I think under the circumstances she made the right call. The position she was in is … damned if you do damned if you don't.

The Prime Minister was thinking about lives and property. The country was in darkness and some people died, some got injured, others lost all their possessions. I would like to know if it was someone other than Portia holding that office if they would be criticised in this manner.

She holds a position that makes it impossible for to her to make a decision without being criticised by the media, the private sector and so many other self- interest groups when it doesn't fit their agenda.