The Editor, Sir:

I wish to express my pleasure in listening to our prime minister on television Sunday evening.

To commence with, the length was ideal for viewership, just long enough with good content so as not to bore. Most important, however, he refrained from the temptation of making a grand decree, which, in my mind, is often intended to shift the focus from the event in question to the bearer of the good news - a political manoeuvre designed primarily to improve one's ratings.

Second, he touched on the fact that criminals must "get with the programme". One of our talk show hosts takes the view that our crime wave is almost entirely due to a sense of hopelessness by the under-privileged. While a lot has to be done to redress employment opportunities, or the lack thereof, I believe that we will find the perpetrators in the main to be the young who, while not happy with their lot, nevertheless, are energetic and talented in some form or another. They choose the easier but illegal, get-rich-quick methods.

Finally, I applaud him in welcoming bi-partisan collaboration in developing how best to show the nation's appreciation for the achievements of our Jamaican athletes in Beijing, on their return home.

I am, etc.,

PAUL BITTER

bits44@cwjamaica.com