THE EDITOR, Sir:

In a recent statement reported in leading newspapers, November 30, 2009, the minister of finance indicated that Jamaica's salvation and its productive capacity were inextricably linked. I seem to have heard this before. In fact, I heard it many times before over a 30-year period. The statement causes me to reflect, therefore, on that old saying, that if we are not careful, our words will return to haunt us. Obviously, we have not been exercising caution or industry over the past few decades.

In the 1970s Jamaica faced some daunting problems. Many erudite statements included the challenge facing the nation. It seems, if the report is correct, that the challenge has never left us. Consider this statement in the report: "The challenge, therefore, is we have to find ultimately the long-term solutions for our country." Of course, that was the rhetoric of the '70s through the '90s and now into the 21st century.

Forgotten the past

There are other aspects of the report that imply that we have either forgotten the past or are unable to break its shackles. As a people, we have to manifest the capacity to convert words into action, to achieve strategic goals, to rebuild and move forward, to ever-expanding horizons. Let's take the suggestion given in the report. The report carries the suggestion that breadfruit and ackee orchards, among other things, are necessary. This is not new. So we must ask the question, 'What's stopping us?' Breadfruit suckers grow wild in various locations in Jamaica, and every home throws away thousands (maybe millions) of ackee seeds every year. What's stopping the establishment of ackee orchards, therefore? We need to find an answer to this rather than continue to make the same pronouncements year after year.

Finally, I would like to point out that in the 1940s, agribusiness was making a substantial contribution to Jamaica's economy. In fact agriculture, including the agro-industry, was contributing over 27 per cent of GDP. A number of factors contributed to the demise of agriculture and its related industrial component. Today, we are bringing it back into perspective as a contributor to economic well-being. But we need to do more than talk if we are to avoid repeating ourselves throughout the next 30 years.

I personally think that recovery of the agricultural sector is possible. This will require new initiatives that rationalise the level and quality of participation at the grass-roots level.

I am, etc.,

Lloyd Stanley