Dear Editor,

I wish to address two issues. First, there is much squabbling over the selection of roads to be repaired. It is very tempting for any party in power to use partisan politics in making their selections, because of the vast number of roads in disrepair, and the desire to please their constituents. The government should exhibit fairness by ensuring that the process is not done through the prism of JLP or PNP.

Certain roads should automatically get priority attention – roads to the wharves and agricultural communities, and local roads with heavy traffic. The major thoroughfares are already getting attention. As others have stated, the quality of the repairs should be of paramount importance. For if they are not constructed to meet acceptable standards, it will be money going down the drain.

My hope is that they would form a bipartisan group to evaluate all the roads submitted for repairs, and then prioritise, according to the state of disrepair. This process would allow for transparency and fairness. It shouldn’t be politics as usual with this and other issues. The government would be wise to bear in mind a quote from Saint Augustine: “Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.” They might also want to listen to the song, Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson, while resisting the temptation to dance around the issue.

The second issue has to do with commuter rail. Maybe I’m in the dark on this. It would be very good for the government to explore with the Chinese the possibility of resurrecting the rail service. Any country the size of Jamaica needs reliable rail transportation. The work to get it back on track is labour-intensive, providing hundreds of jobs across several parishes. A train service would help to reduce pollution, reduce fuel consumption, vehicular accidents and deaths, reduce traffic on some roads, and provide a more relaxing way to traverse the countryside. It would also aid in commerce.

I think it would be good to drink till we are full, while the “cow” is still lactating.

Lloyd McLennon

mococlara@yahoo.com