Throughout the years and across spheres, great men and women have erred in their judgement. We accept that to err is human. However, when injudicious decisions are taken and time has proven that these decisions continue to be disastrous to a people and to a country, any sensible leader should take stock, relent and change course.

Pride, arrogance and haughtiness must be slain. Is it possible to say, "I am sorry, I made a mistake, let's try again"? Michael Manley, after climbing to the mountain top in the 1970s with socialism, found out his mistake, relented and changed course in the 1990s after being out of power for most of the '80s. He was no less a man for this.

Unaffordable

Will Prime Minister Bruce Golding have the grace and humility to confess that 'free education' and 'free health care' are unaffordable and are destroying every fibre of the Jamaican people? Isn't it a fact that minuscule contributions, of $100 to $200 per patient went a far way in boosting the resources of the hospitals, and that the persons who contributed held self-esteem, nonetheless?

Can the prime minister not see that the health system is greatly compromised, mainly for lack of funds, and conditions have deteriorated very badly over the past two years? The poor continue to wait in unending lines for hours without help.

I am, etc.,

STEPHEN WALLACE

Sevens Road

May Pen PO

Clarendon