The coffee growers of Jamaica have been bombarding the press with their woes, while the elite marketing companies and all other coffee interests - roasters, technocrats and even the lowly office clerk - appear to be happy.

The farmers need extraordinary leadership. There needs to be no calling on the prime minister for his intervention because, in any event, his response will be lame.

Farmers, it is your coffee that provides the means for all and sundry to discriminate against you and to oppress your spirit. Attempt the collective withdrawal of your product and this discrimination and oppression will stop.

Do the media people realise that farmers are not adequately compensated for coffee sold during a year when the exchange rate has tumbled to J$79 to US$1.

Farmers, we are the ones to be blamed for prostituting ours and our children's livelihood and we must now make a decision about our future. When was the last time you demanded a statement for your coffee transactions?

I am, etc.,

D. PINK

Kingston