I read Petrojam's Denise Hewitt's response to my previous letter of last December 24, and I am challenging the main item of her response. She alluded to the fact that our progressive decline in the price of gasoline was comparable to what was obtained in Miami as an example.

I am here to dispute that with facts. The reduction in our ex-refinery gasoline prices declined by an average of 37 per cent for unleaded 87 (from J$78.43 on July 17, 2008 to J$48.78 on January 7, 2009 (refer to Petrojam's website http://www.pcj.com/admin/viewrefpricegrid.asp). In Miami gasoline declined an average of 55 per cent (from US$4.13 on July 7, 2008 to US$1.87 on January 7, 2009 (refer to Gasbuddy.com http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx).

If we add the decline in the exchange rate over that period (11.44 per cent) then we are still not comparable to Miami's gas prices as Ms Hewitt stated in her letter. So I implore Ms Hewitt to come with facts and not assumptions, as information is easily obtained on the internet.

I am, etc.,

GERALD CAMERON

gcameron@cwjamaica.com