Dear Editor,

I’m a foreign national and I visit Jamaica often. Thus I read the Jamaica Observer. Over a week ago, Tropical Storm Nicole touched Jamaica, and your paper correctly pointed out that much of the damage done was due to the irresponsible behaviour of Jamaicans themselves.

When I dare to say things like that, most Jamaicans are hurt, and tell me that they can handle things themselves. But that’s not why I write this letter.

In Hungary, far away in Europe – at first sight nothing to do with Jamaica — is a bauxite plant, that creates red mud during its production process. That red mud is being stored in a huge reservoir, surrounded by a dam. Maybe that sounds more familiar to Jamaicans.

The dam burst a few days ago, and the red mud poured freely into the countryside.

At the time of writing, I’ve read nothing about it in the Jamaican papers – maybe because it’s not in the USA, or Buju wasn’t involved. As far as the authorities in Hungary think, the mud is so poisonous, that habitation in the flooded area may be impossible forever.

When I read in your paper that Jamaicans can’t even build a proper road, I can only expect that it will take time until you got a “mud flood” in your country as well.

Do I sound sarcastic? Maybe, but the photos in Hungary tell a thousand tales. Maybe it would be interesting to get a bit of a wider view of the world in your paper.

Thor Bergers

thorbergers@hotmail.com