I read your editorial of December 28, on the divestment of the sugar industry to Infinity group and I repeat a question I had asked before - Why sell it? All it needs is a manager.

If some foreigner is going to buy it and then make it profitable, why doesn't the Jamaican Government seek out those with the requisite management skills to manage it instead? This would be a win-win situation for the country.

It seems to me that our leaders over the years have no vision when it comes to managing the resources of the country. I do believe, that when it comes to selling or the so-called divestment of state-owned resources, we should have a referendum on each proposal. We are talking here about public property, not that of the prime minister nor of the Opposition, the Jamaica Labour Party, the People's National Party or the National Democratic Movement.

Approval

The people should be furnished with the details of any and all negotiations which will take place on their behalf, so they can know what is in it for them and lend their approval to these deals.

I believe that our leaders are not looking at the long-term when they are doing these so-called divestments. They are only looking at one solution and that is sell, sell, sell.

If we cannot find managers in Jamaica, we must leave no stone unturned to find them in foreign countries.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT CLARKE

hotshot_target_5@hotmail.com

Quebec, Canada