The Editor, Sir:

What a hypocritical society we live in. I feel that I am Alice in Wonderland listening and reading the various views of the citizens of this country about the blatant breaking of the privacy condition of the bank involved in the accusation of the JLP against the PNP.

How could the Leader of the Opposition, who could well be our next Prime Minister, allow this to happen and not only allow it to happen, but to literally make a saint out of the person who leaked this information? How can we now trust our banks? If and when the JLP gets into power, will they have the right to get information from our banks etc., about our accounts? Surely this is not ethical or moral.

I am amazed that the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce has decided to comment only on the gift accepted by the PNP. From all that I have read and heard, it certainly is not a criminal matter, but it is indeed worrying and I immediately think of Caeser's wife who is noted in literature as being someone above reproach. How could a party which keeps telling us that it is going to change values and attitudes, not take the higher ground and refuse this gift?

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the PSOJ have never to my knowledge taken the high ground about the wrongs done to employees by members of their organisations. What about the various businesses who from time to time have deducted amounts for NIS, NHT, PAYE etc., and none of these payments were turned over to the various government departments? Do they ever think of the trauma when someone reaches retirement age only to learn that there is no pension for him or her because the funds were never ever paid over? This act, to me, is the height of immorality, but these organisations never speak to this, but now they are getting on their platforms and talking about morality.

Similarly, these organisations have allowed the various utility companies to outsource their payment facilities and these payment facilities are now charging customers for payment of each bill. Is this action not the height of immorality? When will you speak out against these evils?

I do hope that with all that has happened, the stage is now set to have a book of rules regarding donations. I may be very naïve, but I do think that our political parties should get their funding from their members on record, and, of course, each MP etc., should also contribute to this fund and invest wisely so that every five years when the silly season begins, they will not have to go to these outside corporations or the local corporations. I would also like to know whether both sides of the political spectrum, once they take funds from our local private sector, have not tacitly agreed to help them when they get into power.

Food for thought for all of us.

I am, etc.,

BARBARA COVER

Kingston 6