Dear Editor,

I note with contempt the report of the utterances of President Mugabe of Zimbabwe regarding the men of Jamaica and our behaviour. I take offence to those comments by the president of a country which has had a very close

and long relationship with our nation, especially with our ruling party.

As I write this letter - the weekend when the PNP is hosting the public session of its annual party conference - I remember that this is not the first time that a head of state of an African country has disrespected Jamaicans, and in September too.

I recall clearly in September 1977, when the then president of the neighbouring Mozambique, Samora Machel, came and spoke at the PNP conference. I remember as I watched him on television that night saying,"Those who are not with the Socialist system, must be killed from the womb. Kill the 'young crocodiles' before they hatch." A lot of us God-faring Jamaicans prayed for him then.

On October 19,1986, Machel died in a plane crash on his way home from Zambia, and many people at the time reminisced on what he had said about us. As far as I am aware, the majority of us men are still god-fearing Jamaicans and will be praying. Mugabe, " Mad Bob", had better beware.

Winston L Maragh

Councillor, Rocky Point Division

Mitchell Town PA, Clarendon

wmaragh@hotmail.com