I'd like to thank Peter Gordon of Mandeville, Manchester, for his vote of confidence and advice in a letter to The Gleaner published on Friday, September 4.

I agree with his sentiments about politicians giving facts rather than sensationalism for the benefit of crowd acceptance. Fortunately, I don't practise that kind of politics and don't intend to.

Carrying the excerpt

Unfortunately, sometimes the media don't carry the context of our thoughts but rather the excerpt.

While I agree that the global slump in alumina prices has significantly contributed to the demise of our bauxite sector, I believe that the Government of Jamaica 'dropped the ball' from the outset by not properly weighing all the international economic variables, and putting in place a strategic approach to fiscally manage the fallout and lessen the blow to the sector.

Additionally, I still find it difficult to understand why we have not picked winners with competitive advantages to drive our export industries, particularly in the area of agriculture. The US imports over $500 million worth of fresh pepper every year and this is growing at a rate of 30 per cent annually. Why are we not tapping into this market?

Region One not only has the raw materials to develop new exports but diversify old ones and bring a new mindset towards growing our economy.

I will forward to Mr Gordon a copy of my sectoral presentation which is what I was speaking to at that meeting.

I am, etc.,

LISA HANNA, MP

Kingston