The Editor, Sir:

We note with interest the letter from Mark Clarke captioned 'Use Lottery Funds to Fund Education' in The Gleaner of August 27.

Let me clarify the issue for Clarke.

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), as the current sole lottery provider in Jamaica, has played its role as a good corporate citizen in the development of education and educational opportunities in this country.

A few examples are listed below:

To the Government: SVL, since the start of operations in 2001, has contributed over $4 billion to the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, from the sale of lottery game tickets.

Of this amount, 25 per cent or approximately $1 billion has been earmarked for early childhood development. Many of the early childhood resource centres have been built and equipped from these lottery funds. Teacher trainees specialising in early childhood programmes have been granted scholarships from this pool of funds. Many of the early childhood institutions damaged by Hurricane Ivan and other storms have been repaired or rebuilt from these lottery funds.

The early childhood curriculum development programme received funding of more than $3.2 million for the years 2006-2007. The Jamaica Dairy Farmers School Milk-Feeding Programme has received more than $100 million from these lottery funds. The Early Childhood Commission has received funding in excess of $10 million from these lottery funds.

SVL has for the last six years funded the annual Supreme Ventures/Ministry of National Security Youth-At-Risk Scholarship Programme coordinated by The Ministry of National Security, where children from marginal communities and with very limited resources receive grants for tuition, books, uniforms and other school expenses. This programme has benefited from lottery donations in excess of $24 million.

This major sponsorship, along with other donations to various departments, clubs and societies of the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology, highlight the company's corporate commitment to national youth development.

The company offers and facilitates internship/part-time work for college students through employment in its lottery offices or gaming lounges islandwide. We have helped to train students enroled in hospitality management or finance programmes in the various disciplines afforded at our gaming lounges. These include exposure to restaurant and bar operations/cashiering and guest- relations services.

We fully understand the challenges faced by all parents especially at the beginning of each school year, but find Clarke's suggestions for a solution to be coming from someone not fully informed.

Let us hope that from the information set out above he will realise the contribution being made to educational development by SVL.

I am, etc.,

SONIA DAVIDSON

sonia.davidson@svlotteries.com

Vice-president

Group Corporate Communications

Supreme Ventures Limited

Kingston 5