The Editor, Sir:

As usual Ian Boyne wrote an interesting piece in the In Focus section of The Sunday Gleaner (March 1). In response I would like to add the following comments. Boyne and I can agree on the symptoms being suffered by the nation's economy.

We may even have some agreement on the diagnosis of the "generation-old" illness affecting the nation but where there is a big let down in Prime Minister Bruce Golding's recent speech is in respect to the solutions to our problems. Strangely those were absent from the speech which is praised by Boyne. For the prime minister merely to say "tough measures are coming" is not enough. The time for some specific measures to be advanced is passing, while good talk continues to occupy centre stage. Concrete policy implementation is needed. That is the debate we need now and the Government should put its cards on the table so a serious debate can begin.

Concrete measures

Real leadership requires prognosis and treatment planning - how to get the patient better, and not merely the diagnosing of how bad the patient is. What will be done, when it will be done, and what impact it will have on the society, is what the crisis now demands.

That is what Barack Obama, who was elected a year after Golding and faced the same time-frame of crisis has done. Obama has put forward concrete measures which were debated in and out of Congress. I concede that Obama has a better resource base on which to act, but we too have to act within the limits of our resources. Act we must - instead of simply delivering pretty headline-grabbing speeches. I am waiting for the action plans so the debate can take place in earnest and that, unlike the United States, we may arrive at a consensual approach.

Statesmanship will have to outshine partisanship if this is to be achieved. I agree with Boyne that in this silly season of West Portland, which coincidentally is taking place before the "tough measures" are to be announced, is, indeed, a major challenge. In such circumstances I doubt statesmanship will prevail. Golding's speech was long on the problems but very short on solutions. It seems he is calling for another 'Butch Stewart foreign exchange initiative' which the JLP so vehemently criticised when they were in Opposition. If that is the case then the Government should honestly admit that is the solution they are proposing for the foreign exchange crisis facing the nation.

By the way, in Barack Obama's speech to Congress last week, several of his election promises were included. It is amazing how realistic promises can be implemented even in the face of crisis. What a pity this Government can't measure up to the 'realistic' test relative to their election promises.

Trust is a commodity people will withhold at the very time when consensus is required. That issue of trust needs to be worked on by the honest admissions of unrealism in relation to election promises.

Golding is smart when he recognised that "blame" won't triumph over "hope". Such a pity he allows himself to sometimes join his colleagues in thinking blame can beat hope. The JLP won the election because they sold the hope of a better Jamaica under their leadership. That hope is proving to be unrealistic. Reality now faces the Government. Are they up to it? Let the debate begin, let it be guided by honesty and aimed at concrete and, hopefully, consensual conclusions while acknowledging that disagreements need not be unhealthy.

I am, etc.,

LAMBERT BROWN

Kingston