In school I learned that two places with the world's heaviest annual rainfall were Osaka, Japan; and Mill Bank in Portland, Jamaica.

Clearly, these must be areas prone to perennial water-related damage to roads, bridges, landslides, homes and farms. The stress on social mobility, e.g. school attendance and other simple forms of civilised life could hardly be tolerable.

My interest in learning of Mill Bank goes back 75 years. I think it was a banana-producing area for United Fruit Co Export; certainly not so today. My impression now is of a tough, resilient, determined community of persons prepared to reap a few plantains, bananas, yams, sweet potatoes and assorted vegetables, load a truck with these provisions and themselves and, in the wee hours of the morning, go to market.

The reported collapse of the road which killed 14 persons recently is fresh in mind. What is it that drives these residents to persevere?

fiscal benefits

Japan, possibly the world's richest country, can undoubtedly cope with the rain-sodden Osaka, but is it not time for Jamaica's Government to measure the fiscal benefits of maintaining Mill Bank against the horrendous cost of doing this, and consider relocating its population?

After a careful and detailed topographical study, the area could be declared a forest reserve, seeded with native hogs, given say three years to increase along with its bird flocks, then unleash the hunters and earn some revenue. Simultaneously, jobs ... jobs ... jobs ... (paying better than the national minimum wage) could be provided for young unemployed persons, willing to plant in the rainy season in Mill Bank and other areas, saplings, for example, mahogany, cedar, mahoe and pine, allowing time for roots to take hold before drier periods begin. (This, undoubtedly would be a long-term strategy).

Pay for it from the Constituency Development Fund, thus disclaiming successfully, the name 'pork barrel'.

I am, etc.,

RAYMOND L BURGHER

Kingston 6