The Editor, Sir:

My grandmother received a cheque recently for Hurricane Dean relief. She was very grateful and she celebrated the receipt of her unexpected money by going to the hairdressing salon and colouring her once grey hair to black. Her reasoning was that the hurricane did not cause her any physical damage, only a mental one when she contemplated what the breeze would do to her house.

I think the current government is absolutely crazy. My grandmother and others like her did not suffer any damage and yet they were rewarded with cheques. I think the Government should have done a 'need' analysis to see who suffered themost damage and how they can be assisted. This cheque issuing is turning into a political favour race. I do not like it, it stinks to high heaven.

Across-the-board issuing of cheques is not a good idea. It is short-sighted and allows people, like my beloved grandmother, who already gets a substantial pension from England, to spend her money on hairdressers, while needy people are getting an equal amount or less.

I am, etc.,

KERRI HIGGINS

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica

kerrijah@yahoo.com