Dear Sir,

My last letter about Bermuda joining Caricom brought some responses that I want to comment on.

One was questioning as to what tangible results would come of a closer association. I suppose the concern was how much money Bermuda would make. At this point, I could not answer that question.

My thoughts were on strengthening sports organisation and development. I speak of Jamaica simply because I half live there. I see how much attention is given to this area and how world champions are made. Some months back a seven-year-old Jamaican girl won gold in a World Youth Chess tournament.

I also saw where a team from McMaster University held a training camp in Jamaica citing not only the nice weather but also the facilities and organisation on the ground.

If sports is something to be sneered at, then why were Bermudians so proud, joyful and excited by Dame Flora Duffy's gold medal at the Olympics?

I also thought of closer links in the matter of cultural and creative pursuits.

My next thought was in the area of the making of new businesses, sharing ideas of different products and services not already on the market. In business news on TV, I see entrepreneurs showing a variety of offerings that are fresh and new.

Much homegrown entertainment is shown on TV. Many of the local artistes tour the world, having made names for themselves. Other programmes are stories from history, local plays and movies, a Schools Challenge Quiz featuring quality rigorous questions that often make my head spin. There is also a school choir competition, which is shown seasonally. Also featured are local gospel music artistes, among whom are those who have won acclaim overseas.

International sports meets, current and past, are popular items especially as Jamaicans are participants.

It is inspiring watching well-performing students, whether on the sports field or in academics, present themselves so positively and show their leadership as young people having a desire to achieve to a high standard and substantially contribute to society, whether locally or Internationally.

One comment made a reference to Caricom countries as failed nations. Right away, I thought of a cruel mother who would starve her child and then turn around and call the child skinny.

Then I thought of a clip I have seen of Charles De Gaulle, past General and President of France, in which he proclaimed, with a somewhat sombre look on his face, that the only way to keep the West rich was to keep Africa poor.

In addition, I recalled how my Jamaican-born husband has told me how England would send out a call for more coffee or chocolate to be planted. After all the necessary planting and reaping and other work was done to arrange export, news would be sent to inform that there was a glut on the market and prices would have to be slashed.

I also remember when I watched a television programme on which a commentator from The Netherlands regretfully spoke of how the banana industry had been set up in such a way as to disadvantage Jamaica.

HELENE STEPHENSON

Smith’s Parish