Whose record can match Seaga's?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I find the controversy over Edward Seaga's place in Jamaican history very puzzling. It is, of course, possible that history will view him very differently from the ways in which his contemporaries do.

This is a phenomenon that is well known to historians of every kind.

But what does it say about Jamaica that someone who has made so many demonstrable contributions to his country is so opposed and reviled? The country could learn a few things about itself from this controversy.

Mathematics cannot prove everything, but since Mr Seaga has given us his list of contributions, it would be of educational value to the society if the historians give us similar lists made by other national leaders such as Norman Manley, Alexander Bustamante, Donald Sangster, Hugh Shearer, Michael Manley, P.J. Patterson, Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller. It is too early to assess Andrew Holness.

Even if numbers do not tell the entire story, they are an important part of every story. Let arithmetic have something to say about this dispute. So let us have those lists, please.

EARL MCKENZIE

Retired Educator