The Editor, Sir:

The government and the private sector have taken a poor approach towards encouraging and fostering economic growth. The last administration was criticised frequently for failing to achieve substantial increases in economic growth over the last 18 years.

Now the leadership of the country has presumably changed for the better, and one would expect so do economic policies. But once again the government has decided to overlook the importance of entrepreneurship, just one of the areas that could jump-start the economy. In Shaw's budget speech, $30 million was allocated to an entrepreneurial fund to stimulate business start-ups across the island. This is 25 per cent less than what was allocated to each member of parliament to implement a development programme in their constituencies. How ridiculous, now thousands of graduates will be forced to seek employment in a job market that offers only a couple hundred jobs.

Difficult business

In addition, it is generally difficult to do business in Jamaica. So difficult, that the European Commission has to commit $9 billion in an effort to reduce bureaucracy surrounding business start-ups in Jamaica. If it is so difficult for overseas investors to start, can you imagine our own local investors?

I am, etc.,

CONROY HANSON

conreyhanson@yahoo.com

Sec elect, Scotia Visionaries

University of Technology

Via Go-Jamaica