The Editor, Sir:

The opportunity now confronts us as the electorate of this country to demand facts about the performance/stewardship of the PNP and the JLP, and to check the accuracy of claims by both parties, as they put out their advertisements and spread their versions of their achievements among their members and supporters.

We have to our advantage (as never before) the benefits of the information age and the access to government records and statistical data. There is important information that cannot readily be measured, such as which party encouraged and stood for greater order in the society and for the observance of the rule of law; but generally most other information can be unearthed.

It is somewhat interesting that as the society becomes less tolerant of 'negative utterances' and the casting of blame, some vital information becomes lost in the process. For example, the country seems not to be receptive of the PNP raising questions of say Agro-21 and the management of that effort, and neither would they be receptive of the JLP raising questions of say Netserv, NSWMA or NHDC. The question is whether these issues are relevant to the choices we are about to make. Of relevance, and based on areas of known interest by the electorate as stated in the polls, are the issues of crime management, job creation, education, health and justice. These are areas where the data of the performance of both parties while in office need to be made public.

There are two other areas which must receive great scrutiny by the media and the electorate not highly placed in the polls as priority by the electorate. These are issues of economic growth and corruption. Interestingly, these are so closely connected; the more corrupt the government, the fewer prospects for growth.

I am, etc.,

IRVIN C. WADE

Via Go-Jamaica

ircivwade@hotmail.com