Dear Editor,

I refer to Mervin Stoddart’s article, “US destabilisation playbook again ” in the Observer last Saturday.

Is this piece of writing by Mervin Stoddart meant to be taken seriously, or is he playing the devil’s advocate for the sheer fun of it? This is the kind of view that I would expect from ethnic and racial purists, and other xenophobic and politically motivated far-right groups. But such a view coming from a fellow Jamaican, who is no doubt of great intelligence, is surprising and even shocking.

Now, it’s not foreigners who “mash up” Jamaica, but it’s we Jamaicans who are doing this. We can’t just shelve our own responsibility for our actions, and blame others for our failures or successes.

Now, if the day comes when the USA starts to withdraw its visas and green cards, etc, from Jamaicans, and begins to issue travel advisories to its tourists against coming to the island, I think that will be the day when Rev Dr Stoddart might start crying, “Uncle”.

So please, Sir, think carefully before you continue this type of tirade against a country that in effect, helps to “put food in our bellies”.

George Garwood

Florida, USA

merleneg@yahoo.com