Self-indulgence of A-list socialites

The Editor, Sir:

Recently, 700 or 800 A-list socialites, businessmen, bankers and politicians met for dinner over four days at a prominent Kingston hotel for a meal that cost each of them about four times the minimum weekly wage. The function was a promotion staged by a Washington-based entrepreneur and was catered by one of North America's highest-priced restaurants.

Six chefs and assistants were flown into Jamaica, as well as all the ingredients, for the 12 courses served. One morning newspaper devoted six pages of photographs of those who each paid US$150 to attend. The entrepreneur's gross revenue must have been in the neighbourhood of J$12 million.

When will people realise that blatant, public expressions of self-indulgence will not go unnoticed at this time in Jamaica's history by those who can barely feed their families?

I am, etc.,

SICKENED

Kingston