Benefits of buying J'can

THE EDITOR, Sir:

As the close of Jamaica Day (February 28) finds me contentedly enjoying some delicious yogurt made right here in Jamaica (yes, it is really great!), I gave mental thanks to Trinidad for its rude and out-of-order behaviour to my countrymen. Recent incidents prompted me to take a closer look at my weekly shopping, not just to avoid Trinidad products, which I do, but to actively seek to BUY JAMAICAN.

And I wonder, why did it take a reaction to an offensive incident for me to do so? For having begun on that path, I am discovering that Jamaica, for all its high energy costs and disincentives to businesses, is a great manufacturer of food, household and other items.

The yogurt is a prime example. In the past, I would dismiss it and select the higher-priced (incidentally with shorter shelf life) imported item. But now I'm quite happy to say that I will be buying strictly Jamaican yogurt from now on.

We have always taken great pride in our beer, rum and coffee, but this national pride can be extended to other great local products and manufacturers such as National Bakery, Lasco and GraceKennedy, to name a few.

I don't advocate anything as extreme as forgoing all imports, but particularly in light of Jamaica Day and our surging national pride, I do believe that we should all commit to making our best effort to support Jamaica and BUY JAMAICAN, whatever the nature of the product.

L.W.

Proud Jamaican