Summer approaches like a speeding locomotive. The poor, globally, seem welded to their tracks. The poor can only stare in horror at their fate. They feel the vibration down the tracks, it toots its horn, you know it's coming and can only beg for it be over and done. Soon we will see what poor Caucasians and suffering blacks in Africa have in common. One will die from heat, the other, in most cases, because they don't eat. I can hear the cries of infants and the groans of old women and men of all races as they swelter. Is this really an advanced world? Finally, let's all hope for the best, while we do our best to make it better, and no California, European, or any other fire. Oneness, one love, Jah bless!

- Lancelot, jahlanz@yahoo. com, Via Go-Jamaica

Balanced view

I find the editorial of April 17 'Striking a decent tone in the Budget Debate' very balanced. The approach is encouraging in light of the plebian behaviour displayed recently by a few in the House of Representatives and certain areas of the media. Keep up the good work.

- Lemmar Moncrieffe rammelss@yahoo.com, Homestead, Fl, Via Go-Jamaica

Budget soirEe

Sometimes one has to wonder whether those at the helm in Jamaica, have any inkling as to public perception. I was appalled to read that the minister of agriculture had the gall to host an after-Budget soirée at The Jamaica Pegasus. The price of food is skyrocketing, the budget is soooo inflated, and he saw fit to host a chowdown at an upscale hotel. Talk about 'let them eat cake indeed!'

- P. Hart, pjch1@msn.com, Little Rock, Ar.

Via Go-Jamaica

Watch the benefit

Jamaica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with some of the purest water on Earth. Water today is more valuable than gas and it is so sad that while our leaders are cutting each other's throats for power, others are selling out our most valuable asset to other countries by allowing them to build these big hotel properties all across the island. When a commodity is in high demand the value goes up, we will soon be seeing the effect of this on our electricity and more so our water bills. While it is good that these hotels are creating jobs for us, we should also make sure that it does not only benefit us in the short term and then hurt us in the long run.

- Winston Mathison, wemathison @yahoo.co.uk, London, Via Go-Jamaica