Dear Editor,

Every new administration blames the previous one for destroying the country and then expects the Jamaican people to make more sacrifices. As far as I can remember we have always been making sacrifices, but the gains we have made are nowhere near the sacrifices made.

Our leaders at the end of their term in office, no matter how short, look much better off, they drive better cars, own better houses and overall live at a higher standard. It leaves one to conclude that the sacrifices we make redound to their benefit, not ours. No matter how much the debt increases, unemployment gets higher, or the country seems worse off, our leaders never appear affected.

Now the prime minister is again asking us to make more sacrifices and on the 12th of never we will benefit. She doesn't give us any timeline; we are required to trust her that at the end of the day, this time, we will be better off. But based on past experiences, how can we? Can Mrs Simpson Miller promise us more foreign investment, a more stable dollar, more employment, reduction in crime, lowering of fuel prices and appreciable growth in the economy? If she cannot, she might as well be silent.

Mark Clarke

Siloah, St Elizabeth

mark_clarke9@yahoo.com