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Hylton's performance
Hylton
THE EDITOR, SIR: ALMOST all of the commentaries on the subject have expressed regret at the move of Anthony Hylton from the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Perhaps most of this sentiment is born more from the dread of what havoc may be wreaked by the new incumbent rather than the actual performance of Mr Hylton himself. Very few Jamaicans are equipped to evaluate whether trade negotiations have been competently handled or not, and neither do we know who deserves the real credit. In any case, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and so far there is nothing in 'foreign trade', after years in office, to suggest that Mr. Hylton has made any achievement. However, a recent appearance on radio, probably The Breakfast Club, gives us an insight into Mr. Hylton and how he thinks. Mr. Hylton was ecstatic about the fact that in some recent period we had shown greater inflows of foreign currency than outflows. He explained that the figures were prominently displayed on his desk where he could gaze at them all day, thereby getting his inspiration. It is no secret that the significant influences on inflows of foreign exchange in the recent past have been the following: That the trafficking of drugs and laundering of the gains from this activity have never been higher. That Jamaicans living abroad have never felt a greater need to send remittances to their impoverished families at home. That never before have there been so many sales to foreigners of our local companies decimated by the policies of the last decade. That we have borrowed more foreign exchange than ever before, mortgaging more and more of our present and future generations under a mountain of debt.It takes all kinds of things for people to get their kicks, but is there cause for concern when these are the items in which our leaders find their inspiration? I am, etc., RICHARD PHILLIPS Kingston
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