Dear Editor,

For the conscious citizen pondering the whys and wherefores of Jamaica’s rise and fall and current dilemma, the “Prime Ministerial Reflections 50/50” presented by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies provides an excellent opportunity for knowledge and understanding.

Last Thursday a full and overflowing room at the Pegasus heard Edward Seaga’s elucidating analysis of Jamaica’s past 50 years. It covered the widest possible range of social, economic and cultural activities; and I was delighted and positively impressed by the fact that so many of those attending were teenage students and young teachers. Their searching questions indicate a healthy interest in the future of the country.

Remarkably under-represented were members of our over-sized battery of political commentators, too many of whom base their opinions on false premises, fiction, fantasy and fanatical partisanship.

Next in the series we should be hearing from former prime ministers PJ Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller. I hope that for the sake of a secure future, the audience, especially of young people, will continue to be large, enthusiastic and open-minded.

Ken Jones

Kensjones2002@yahoo.com