In reading the letter submitted by Ken Jones, the communications director in the Office of the Prime Minister, regarding the Community Development Fund (CDF), I am reminded of the saying, "A rose by any other name is still a rose." Pork, no matter how it's dressed up, prepared, sliced and diced, is still pork.

The CDF is the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government's version of the SESP (Social and Economic Support Programme) that was launched by the People's National Party (PNP) government in 1990. Jones can point out all he wants to the altruistic nature of the CDF but that does not mean it should exist.

There is a central and local government structure that should allow for funds to flow into communities that need help and assistance. There are any number of NGOs that can and should be allowed to do some of the things he outlined with the basic proviso that they do not discriminate in any manner when using government funds to help the public in any areas (geographical and speciality-wise).

I recall, as a kid back in the late 1960s to early 1970s, travelling with my aunt, who was then employed by the Hanover Parish Council, to various villages in Western Hanover to give money to folks. She had to, as part of her job, keep a record of how much money she doled out.

No pipelines

In fact, she worked for the inspector of poor within the parish council and she was paid her regular salary, plus mileage for using her own car on her rounds. The point is that back in those days, there was no SESP or CDF and taxpayers' money did not pass through too many hands to get to the needy recipient.

There is nothing wrong with an MP asking for extra financial and other resources for his/her constituents if they see (a) glaring need(s) that they want met. However, keeping a pork-barrel programme in place under another name does not make it something else other than pork.

I am, etc.,

TREVOR DAWES

McDonough, Georgia