The Editor, Sir:

Several weeks ago, the Government announced plans to divest the ailing, failing sugar industry, which had placed a $20 billion debt on our backs. Almost immediately, the former minister of agriculture, now shadow minister, poured cold water on the plan.

A day later, he was invited to be a panellist on a radio programme. It turned out that the reasons he gave for predicting doom were addressed by the Government, long before the agreement was reached. In fact, Roger Clarke, shadow minister, was the only panellist who seemed to know almost nothing about the plans for the industry.

Misinformation

Last week, in an effort to to ease the pressure of high fertiliser prices on farmers, the prime minister indicated that he was attempting to identify sources of cheaper fertiliser.

Mr Clarke was all over the media telling Jamaica he "heard" that the Government was likely to import dangerous, radioactive fertiliser from The Ukraine.

Last night, he was on TV, in front of a cheering crowd, 'warning' the Government not to bring contaminated fertiliser here to "kill off poor people".

Since Mr Clarke's party was voted out of power and became the parlia-mentary Opposition, this country has been bombarded with misinformation, mischief and half truths, rendering this present Opposition the most unreliable and irresponsible in our history.

Instead of responsible opposition, we seem to be getting reckless obstruction. Workers, who are laid off are told that they were being punished for supporting the previous govern-ment. The food and oil crises affecting the world are placed squarely, by them, at the feet of the present Government. Many out there will tell you that our Government is increasing prices to get money to pay for another election.

Swallowed 'Anancyisms'

All this, while the prime minister continues to treat the matter as if he were lecturing an MBA class. He is taking the high ground but nobody is up there. The people, deprived of the kind of education that would enable them to think critically and creatively, have swallowed these 'anancyisms' hook, line and sinker. So, tension is growing and they are becoming angry.

The Ukraine numbers among its trading partners, Italy, Germany and the United States. Using its own fertiliser, The Ukraine has done very well in agriculture. Last year, it exported 9.1 million tonnes of wheat and barley.

Of the US$1.2 billion, the US purchased from that country last year, $153.4 million was used to purchase fertiliser and pesticides.

I find it extremely unlikely that developed countries, with educated electorates and transparent governments, would be exposing their people to products that are likely to 'kill them off'.

May I suggest that nothing forces a government to perform like a credible and respectable Opposition.

It is not enough to declare regularly that you 'luv de poor'. What we are getting is rumour, gossip, cass-cass, tracing and passa passa. We deserve better.

It may take some time for our people to wake from their long cerebral slumber. But, when they do, those that have treated them with contempt, for so long, will pay "dearly, dearly".

I am, etc.,

GLENN TUCKER

Stony Hill, Kingston 9