The Editor, Sir:

As I mull over the recent tax package, I am surprised at the level of naiveté shown by my fellow Jamaicans as the inevitability of such a package has been evident for a long time and cannot be avoided entirely no matter what anyone says or wishes.

Who really believes the International Monetary Fund was not waiting for, or was behind this action which unfortunately reflects the reality of the Jamaican condition before any deal would be formally ratified?

Among the current conditions in Jamaica is that manufacturing is in decline, with current manufacturers wishing they could move their operations to South America or Asia. Note that business people are not taking available, money even at lower interest rates. They can say whatever, but after FINSAC, many are refusing to get burned again and, frankly, are better off investing their money safely elsewhere.

Jamaicans have champagne tastes thanks to cable television and the enormous diaspora. 'Made in Jamaica' is now third class and undesirable, and grown in Jamaica is rejected for imported food that cannot be sold in the land it is grown. (Yes, much of what you buy is labelled 'export only'.)

Our international loan balances are truly overwhelming and nothing this government says will ever make Jamaicans understand the gravity of harm done by 18 years of incompetence and head -in-the-sand governance. The fact is the vast majority of Jamaicans think, the enormous debt has absolutely nothing to do with them. As long as they can wear Nike, Baby Phat, Prada and Gucci, who gives a damn?

Total annihilation

It is my opinion that Bruce Golding either has to take an attitude of forcing Jamaicans to wake up to the quandary we are in and be willing to work together at all levels to dispel the idea that the 'big man' can always provide all the money to keep the economy growing; or, this taxation is really what the country needs and if they can't see it, then they deserve Portia Simpson Miller and Omar Davies come next election. Let's have them finish what they started, which to some is the total annihilation of Jamaica.

Every Jamaican needs to ask himself or herself what he or she is willing to sacrifice to put the country back on its feet. Unfortunately, most don't even see the need and thanks to ignorance and stupidity, the aforementioned scenario of demise of a once great little country may well be inevitable.

I am, etc.,

STEVE SMITH

stavsig@gmail.com