The Editor, Sir:

It was refreshing to read the article 'Putting the railway back on track' in The Gleaner of March 2. This is precisely the type of bold, visionary outlook we need in this country to move us forward. However, it appears that our leaders have not reached this level as yet and that is one of the reasons why our country as a whole is still lagging.

An efficient railway system that provides service to commuters and transportation for goods will boost production and save on the consumption of oil. Imagine all the economic spinoffs from this; the convenience stores, the taxi stands, green tourism, etc.

Consistent with this bold outlook, we should also consider our ideal geographical location and our perfect climate for producing what everyone in this world needs - food! Vast amounts of our lands are being underutilised and over-fertilised, mainly for special interests, limiting jobs, harming the environment and facilitating what appears to be a process that will result in an environmental/health disaster.

BOLD THINKING

One possible area of increased food production is in cashew nuts. They require low maintenance, have a readily available market and offer potentially excellent returns on investment. The biggest consumers of cashew nuts are North Americans and they have to import it from halfway around the world. Some of our sugar cane workers could be employed to harvest the cashew nut while the lands are diverted into acres and acres of cashew orchards. Imagine the number of jobs this could generate! This is just one of many products that some of our dying and non-productive sugar plantations could be converted into on a large scale.

Another area requiring bold and visionary thinking that directly affects our economic health is crime. Technology and basic, good old community police work could take a big bite out of our crime problems. Our police/security personnel need an integrated technological system which connects special agencies. This would also create the ability to track crime and identify the connections between original and revenge/reprisal murders.

The prevailing situation is that when a person 'informs' or reports to the police a particular criminal activity, the response is limited or no follow up is made, unless the report has a certain 'privileged status', otherwise, you may find that the criminals somehow are advised of the situation and harm consequently is directed towards the reporter/informer, by the same criminal.

Our leaders need to educate themselves about the big picture. The society needs to be reprogrammed into proper moral behaviour and in doing so, if we use the law and codes of conduct, we can generate much-needed revenue, while teaching us to be better citizens.

I am, etc.,

NAM SINGH

namsingh7@hotmail.com