Letters

The Editor, Sir:

I don't think our economy is really ready for the sort of CARICOM integration being urged by many. The region's economic playing field is far from being level, and as such, trade among member states is being done unfairly. Production in other CARICOM states is much cheaper than in Jamaica. They will be able to make the cheaper goods, dump them and, by so doing, kill off what we have here.

As Kevin O'Brien Chang stated in his column of July 11, we have lost over $25 billion over a three-year period - 2006-2009 - all because of being a part of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and not being able to set tariff on goods entering our shores. Too bad for us!

Main culprits

Our governments, past and present, are the main culprits as they have put our economy in the stressful state that it is now in. We need nationalistic leaders; a little touch of authoritarianism won't hurt us so long as such person love this country and its people, and have visions to take this country forward by using the country's natural resources, its own people, through education and skills training.

Only then can we become actively involved in CARICOM. Our people will then be able to move about freely without member states feeling threatened by us as migrants.

I am, etc.,

WILLARD GARNETT

wgarnett59@hotmail.com

Temple Hall district

St Andrew