The Editor, Sir:

I am just three months short of being the same age as the People's National Party (PNP).

I feel that I have grown and matured going towards my three score and 10 years.

Unfortunately, I can't feel or say the same about the PNP. I hear them talk about healing the wounds in the party. There is continuous talk about scars and bruised feelings that occur every time there is an election, whether party, presidential, or national.

When will the politicians grow up? When will they stop fooling themselves and stop trying to convince themselves that they are fooling us? Many of them should by now realise that they can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time.

Promised nightmare

Take the last general election, for example. After the results were declared that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had won and would form the next Government, what did the losing PNP do? Instead of being magnanimous in defeat and thank and congratulate the voters for ensuring some semblance of the so-called democratic process remaining intact, though fragile in parts - we were promised nightmare, the worst nightmare ever.

And who is experiencing the turbulence and hardships of the nightmare that has also turned into 'daymare'? It's the poor and defenceless of our country.

Now that we are seeing the escalating out-of-control crime rate, the ever-rising world food and gas prices, the natural disasters that affect people's lives all over the world, the most constructive thing that is referred to is a comparison of the price of chicken back and that we must grow and eat more cassava.

No constructive criticisms

We expect to hear more constructive criticisms and positive observations coming from the leader of the opposition. Just to say that the JLP government is not doing enough for the poor people is puerile.

The PNP had been in government for over 18 years continuously. Had they laid just, equitable, firm and strong economic foundations, we would have been able to withstand the upheavals of world food and gas prices, at least for a while longer.

Our so-called leaders are letting us down badly. They must stop talking before they think, engage brain before they engage mouth. Our survival is serious business and should not be trivialised. We deserve better!

I am, etc,

H. Arthur S.