Letters

The Editor, Sir:

The prime minister's recent comments promising to reconsider the University of Technology's (UTech's) proposal for the Trelawny stadium is the best news I have heard in a long time. UTech has a track record of training Jamaica and the Caribbean's young people to become the best in the world at what they do. Western Jamaica would reap incalculable benefits from the establishment of a university campus in Falmouth. Jamaica has enough sporting and entertainment centres.

For many of us Jamaicans, this is a no-brainer. Politicians, however, take a longer time than most to make decisions that are in the interest of the nation.

There is no doubt that a university campus in Trelawny will have immeasurable benefits and spin-offs. Some of these benefits are as follows:

It would make tertiary education accessible to more persons in western Jamaica.

It would be a visible encouragement for many high school students in Trelawny that tertiary education is just at their doorsteps.

It would give workers in the west opportunities for retraining and upgrading of their standards.

It would be keeping in line with the drive to improve the physical and economic infrastructure of Trelawny, especially with the new port in Falmouth now under construction.

It would create a major source of employment for workers at all levels.

It would certainly attract more investors to Trelawny, since investors love to set up business in an environment where there are training institutions and educated and skilled workers.

It would not rule out the possibility of the complex still being used for sports development, sports and heritage tourism.

It would help to transform the social and cultural landscape in Trelawny.

It would make sensible use of the stadium and its facilities.

To this day, the minister of culture, Olivia Grange has not outlined clearly what she means when she says she wants to use the Trelawny complex as an entertainment centre. The prime minister should not wait on Miss Grange to make a decision about Trelawny. He is the one who should form a team to examine the two proposals and then make a decision in the best interest of the nation. The political, civic and business leaders of the parish should not wait for the Government to make a decision, but should seek to convince it on what is in the best interest of the citizens of Trelawny and Jamaica.

If this doesn't happen, then a gold mine could soon become a symbol of wasted resources and frivolous spending. What a golden opportunity for the prime minister to act in the public's interest and not simply in the interest of those who feel that Jamaica's future lies in seasonal events that promote gyrations and lead to frustration.

I am, etc.,

ROY NOTICE

Son of Trelawny

rlinnotice@hotmail.com