The EDITOR, Sir:

Recently, a number of very prominent Jamaican personalities have written positive articles about what is right with Jamaica. On several occasions, I picked up my pen in an effort to add to the positive vibes, but after I write about the natural beauty and the abundance and large variety of products from the soil, I find myself at a loss for words when it comes to the most important factor: the Jamaican people.

In 1996, I returned to the land I love after living in North America for 43 years and found a nation of selfish, disrespectful, rude and inconsiderate liars at all levels of society.

The major problem is an absolute lack of integrity. The nine-letter word seems to have disappeared from their vocabulary and lifestyle. My experiences with business people, professionals and school teachers, politicians, members of the constabulary, trades people, market people and even university professors, have left a sadness in my heart, a sense of disappointment and mistrust and a feeling that the situation is hopeless.

In spite of the positive and meaningful contributions by our gifted athletes and the handful of young academics, the overall national message is one of confusion, chaos, falsehood and deceit. People who are in positions to set an example do and say only to glorify the ego and seek self-gratification. Even the Church seems to have lost its way; wealth and power have replaced sacrifice and truth.

spiritual transformation

Only a spiritual transformation can put us on a positive growth path toward love, peace and prosperity. Prayer and a renewed sense of reverence for self, our neighbour and the Almighty God can save us from absolute destruction. We can forget about positive improvements and foreign investments if we continue to deny the TRUTH, plunging day after day into the darkness of poverty, ignorance, crime and violence. It is time we wake up and realise that righteousness does indeed exalt a nation.

I am mindful that there are good and wonderful people in our society, but the majority, possibly because of a lack of education, is creating major havoc, preventing us from experiencing God's good and wonderful blessings.

I am, etc.,

Rev LEEROY

JAMES CAMPBELL