Having read Claude Clarke's Public Affairs article (Sunday, January 18), I am happy to see that persons with a People's National Party (PNP) background are aware of the way independent, but politically interested people are thinking about the party now.

Although some of us may have philosophical sympathy for the PNP's ideology, we are extremely disappointed with their poor performance over 18 years. Our disappointment stems not from the fact that there has been no progress. Anyone willing to be objective and who is not a Jamaica Labour Party tribalist can see that there has been progress.

Our disappointment stems from the fact that we would and should have been much further ahead with strong, honest leadership and smart, creative policies, which were absent during their tenure. We got stuck with cautious, incremental thinking instead of bold, big ideas, which was great for winning elections but did nothing to realise the country's potential as a leading economy in this hemisphere.

It is clear that the PNP hierarchy and power structure are filled with spent forces and vacuous leadership. Can any of us think of one great, revolutionary, and more important, implemented idea or policy emitting from this party within the last 10 years? Highway 2000? In 18 years we should have had 10 projects of that scale - and again important - completed.

I am, etc.,

NIMAL AMITIRIGALA

amitirig@gmail.com