Dear Editor,

On the eve of our 50th anniversary celebration Jamaicans should awake from their slumber and support their local manufacturers and hard-working farmers.

Appearing recently on TVJ, Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke took issue with the massive importation of banana chips.

Millions and millions of scarce US dollars are spent yearly importing all sorts of chips, peanuts and candies.

As a manufacturer myself, I am suggesting that we can make those products in Jamaica. Some big supermarkets have placed an embargo on most Jamaican snacks. You have to really hunt and search to find an authentic Jamaican product on the shelves.

Some large distributors are flooding the market with imported chips from Costa Rica and South America. Peanuts are coming in from Trinidad, making it impossible for delicious St Elizabeth peanuts to be made available to Jamaican consumers.

Plantains and bananas are ripening in the fields of St Mary while container loads of overseas plantain chips are piling up at Kingston Wharves.

On behalf of all agri-industrial food manufacturers, I am appealing to the government to create a level playing field in the marketplace.

On another matter, I cannot close without mentioning the appalling and disgraceful condition of the main roads leading into Highgate, a major school hub. The roads in Tremolesworth District (a great farming area) have ceased to exist as a viable roadway.

The residents of St Mary are appealing for help from the prime minister as apparently we have no working representative in this area.

My closing remark is: "Have pride in Jamaica and support your local products."

Winston Cohen

Krunche Nuts

Highgate PO, St Mary

krunchienuts35@hotmail.com