The Editor, Sir:

I would like to endorse the view of your columnist, Devon Dick, in his column printed on October 2, in The Gleaner about the Rising Star competition.

For some time now, I have wondered what this competition is all about. Is it really to expose talent or is it to increase the coffers of not only Digicel in this instance, but the other phone companies who allow voting on their network.

How can you have fair competition when persons are allowed to vote more than once? How can the less fortunate, or those who do not have the financial backing, get recognition for their talent if such a system is allowed? How can the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission support and endorse such practices?

Encourages cheating

This voting system encourages cheating, which should not be condoned. It would be similar to allowing persons to vote several times on election day as long as they are willing to stand in a line all day.

This practice by all the phone companies and other companies that sponsor these competitions, needs to be scrapped. They are encouraging practices that are unethical and unsavoury, to say the least.

I am, etc.,

IAN PHILLPOTTS

onepott@yahoo.com

16 Deeside Avenue

Kingston 10

Via Go-Jamaica