I wish to thank the author of the letter 'The conundrum facing the UWI', published on February 23 for the kind remarks therein. However, the author disagreed with the idea of expanding the law faculty at UWI, Mona, to accommodate the three-year law degree programme for reasons which I find to be quixotic if not irrational, and, as such, I am compelled to respond by making a few points.

The author stated that, "Expanding the law faculty at Mona and St Augustine campuses would greatly hinder the regional experience and Caribbean integration concomitant with the pursuit of legal education at the UWI."

Expanding the law faculty at the Mona campus to accommodate the three-year programme would not preclude Jamaican students from studying at the Cave Hill campus. The students who have a desire and whose financial circumstances allow, should have that option available. However, the Jamaican students who can't afford to go, and wish to complete their law degree programme at the Mona campus of the UWI, should have the option to stay here.

By expanding the law faculty at Mona, Jamaican students will have a choice. In the same way that Barbadian students doing medicine can now (since August 2008) exercise their option to stay in Barbados instead of coming to Jamaica to study for the MBBS degree. Since August 2008, the Cave Hill campus in Barbados has started offering the full complement of courses required to attain the MBBS degree. I doubt that any reasonable person would accuse the Barbadians of being nationalistic in this regard. In fact, under the prevailing circumstances, it's the sensible thing to do.

I am not against regional integration, I welcome it. It's a noble pursuit; nevertheless, it cannot, as a justification for not expanding the law faculty at the Mona campus, supersede the economic reality which faces many Jamaican students.

I am, etc.,

RAUN S. BARRETT

Faculty of Law

UWI, Mona