Dear Editor,

Two rival groups are travelling on a boat that hits a rock and starts sinking. The bilge pump is not working. The first group grabs buckets and starts bailing out the water. The other group looks on, complaining bitterly that it’s bad management that made the boat hit the rock. The boat keeps sinking and more men are needed on the buckets, but the reluctant men just keep criticising and complaining.

The above analogy is Jamaica today – a sinking boat. Like the sinking boat, Jamaica has a Government and an Opposition who refuse to genuinely work and cooperate to get Jamaica out of its economic maelstrom. Both sides are busy seeking “brownie points” and catering to the uninformed masses, instead of pulling together to save this country from bankruptcy. The Dudus and the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips matters, although important, are really side issues and should be dealt with accordingly. Employment, crime, education and the IMF are of prime importance. These are issues of major importance for the government. It is missing the forest because of the trees.

G Martin

Kingston