Dear Editor,

No objective Jamaican can deny that Edward Seaga did some laudable things for the people of Jamaica. But Garfield Higgins’ The Agenda column in the Sunday Observer, ‘Chronicles of a Jamaican Hero’ seems to be more hero worship than fact.

It is true that the former prime minister did build some notable institutions, but to imply that he was a financial genius is absurd.

Seaga’s ideas were not solely his. Many Jamaican business people and politicians outside his party were pushing for the establishment of these institutions. As well, there were international agencies providing financial advice to developing countries.

Clearly, Seaga was a man of some vision, but that does not make him a financial genius or national hero. After all, he was being paid by taxpayers to improve their lot. No garrison politician should ever be given the honour of national hero. Notoriety is not a criterion for heroism.

R Oscar Lofters

Kingston 8

lofters1@aol.com