Dear Editor,

The ruling administration and the minister of finance in particular have been battered recently over their handling of the economy. I wrote previously asking that the minister of finance be given some more time before pulling the plug on his innings. I see the recent utterings from the minister has vindicated my request.

Over the last week the minister announced that the letter of intent to the IMF has been completed, there will be no new taxes in the coming financial year and the vociferously opposed tax package has been adjusted.

There is a lot more to be done but the government has started the new year on the right note. This is in the context of a country like Iceland having a referendum on whether to repay its national debt – this is significant as a poor country like Jamaica did not even consider such an option in the face of severe economic constraint. The economy has been held together in the face of ever-increasing odds, so let us all get on board with government and join hands and heart to save Jamaica in 2010. We can do it!

Phillip A Chambers

phillipdcchambers@yahoo.com