THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HOPE the article in The Gleaner of June 14 headlined 'Clarke snubs Bartlett's beef ban call' is an exaggeration. For while we worry about possible implications in terms of exports to the US, that certainly cannot be the primary consideration if there is a possibility that beef coming out of that country is infected with the mad cow disease.
One cannot dismiss for economic reasons what could potentially be a health catastrophe. Be careful less our short-term gains cloud our sight of our long-term obligations to the Jamaican population.
Need I remind the minister that only last year one cow was found in the U.S. with the disease and out of an abundance of caution without any consideration for the meat industry, the U.S. put in measures to ban the production of beef coming from that part of the country.
There is a lesson not only in economic management but I dare say leadership. There the powers that be sought to put the interest of their citizens first. No one is suggesting we panic but it is always best that we err on the side of caution. I am sure the US would not hesitate in banning ours.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD BRUCE
MALCOLM
bruce_26@hotmail.com
Faculty of Law
University of the West Indies
Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
