THE EDITOR, Madam:
WE NOTED your recent editorial comment about the state of Jamaica's economy, and how it is creating a new wave of emigration. You used a phrase that was very telling, and it was "where are the suggested solutions from the thinkers in our three universities?" I know that this was a rhetorical question for we have great thinkers throughout all Jamaica, but what we lack, it seems, are 'doers'.
Well, here are a couple of thinkers and doers who would like to suggest ways to develop Jamaica both socially and economically.
Premise: A reliable and cheaper source of energy is necessary to the prosperity of Jamaica in the 21st century.
Proposals:
1. Dam the Rio Grande at a suitable spot to create a lake. For example, at See-me-no-more in Kent, west of Ginger House, Portland. Here, the natural land formation forms two walls to contain the water.
2. At least two alternators will be mounted to run by water pressure from the lake. Spillways will control the height of the lake. One or more alternator will be at rest and serviced while the other produces power for the island.
Overhead cables will carry energy throughout the island. Transformers near population centres will provide useable electricity for the area.
3. Water from the lake will be piped to the drought-stricken areas of the island. Crops suitable for each area will be grown.
4. An inter-parish or county trade commission will assist trade as parishes sell their produce to each other. Portland whose chief resource is rainfall will be remunerated by the other parishes for the use of its water and power.
5. In the lake, introduce fish; build hotels, recreational and tourists amenities around it so that people can boat, ski, and enjoy the natural beauty of a great Jamaican spot the Rio Grande Valley Lake Region.
6. Financing the dam project: Approach a reputable power company abroad, e.g. Duke Power of Charlotte, North Carolina or the governments of say the UK or the USA, and let them use their army engineers for the task of constructing the dam. Likewise, study other dam projects, e.g., the Aswan Dam of Egypt, to see how they went about building it.
7. Finally, such a dam project would be the catalyst for launching Jamaica on the road to economic recovery, for it would free us from total dependence on foreign oil to run our current generating stations, thus saving billions of dollars in oil payments. This would lead to cheaper energy for all, and cheaper energy would attract businesses which would lead to the development of the island.
Likewise, the injection of capital into this project would create an army of workers which would kick-start the economy; this and more, would be the launching pad for Jamaica's economic take-off into the 21st Century.
I am etc.,
REV. R. L. KENNEDY
& GEORGE GARWOOD
E-mail: gmr1872@aol.com
Charlotte, North Carolina
Via Go-Jamaica
