The Editor, Sir:

This is response to Mr Martin Henry's column in The Sunday Gleaner.

Mr Henry: All you state is the truth, but like a horse with blinders on, only half the truth. You are galloping along on half a truth.

You compare the expenditure on education in Jamaica with Barbados, yet in the last 18 years our dollar has fallen from J$5-US$1 to now $72-1. the percentage of the taxes to pay interest and pay back the debt from maybe 10 per cent to now over 60 per cent. While the Barbadian dollar is still worth $2.9-1 and am sure the amount that has to be deducted to pay on debt, nothing like ours. In between, we had, too, the financial collapse of the banks, with punitive and extortionate interest and penalties.

Partisanship

Question, where in the last 18 years was your voice on the matter? You are acting like Rip Van Winkle awakened from a long sleep. It is my opinion that if writers as yourself would or could speak all the truth and not half the truth, Jamaica would be a great deal better off. Partisanship is what has crucified this country and its people, and am afraid it will continue to be so.

Question, how then can a gov't that inherited this mess do better by promising blood, sweat, and tears to pay off debt and increase wealth by hard work? I am sure if given a chance the country will be a better place financially and otherwise at the end of its turn.

I think the phrase is "the truth will set us free".

I am, etc.,

A. MAHFOOD

tetjam@jamweb.net