I think that it has been good for Jamaica that there has been controversy with regard to the naming of the proposed new $5,000 bill in honour of the former prime minister of Jamaica and president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), Hugh Lawson Shearer.

The debate has allowed for some of the achievements of this Jamaican patriot to be put before the public once more. This was necessary because his many achievements and the magnificent contributions he made to our island home are obviously not known by many Jamaicans.

Ignorance

The Ministry of Education and the Jamaica Information Service should take note of this and ensure that, in future, information about our leaders is widely disseminated among our young people. I find the ignorance being displayed in some quarters about the achievements of Shearer to be appalling.

He did a good job as prime minister of Jamaica, but I think that his greatest accomplish-ments were as a trade union leader. Hugh Shearer was a reluctant prime minister but he loved being a trade union leader and did a magnificent job in various positions in the BITU.

Let no one try to diminish his worth! He served the nation well and deserves every honour bestowed on him.

I am, etc.,

LEROY A. BROWN

lab935@yahoo.com