A number of things impress me in the article: one, it is fully contextualised in historical terms; two, the argument is comprehensive and leaves no gaps; three, it encourages people to establish their own real identity in terms of similarities with and differences from others; four, it encourages participation through reflection and debate; five, it aims at promoting mutual respect; six, and perhaps most important of all, it identifies those qualities we need to ensure peace in ourselves, our families, our communities, our peoples and globally. And permeating it all is the courage and commitment to confront the otherwise seductive issue of global capitalism.
- GERRY GERMAN, COMMUNITIES EMPOWERMENT NETWORK

I have just read your article. It is as informative as it is frightening. Certainly, I have, in the past, received snippets of news-rumor-fiction. But I have never before been the beneficiary of a portrait as complete, and whose pieces are as numerous & varied as this. It would appear that at the level of governments few can be considered completely guiltless. My hope is that someone like this author will carry this type of investigation to its very end, and government & opposition will have the courage to acknowledge the disclosures that might arise.
- WILLIAM H. HARRISON

This article traced a vicious and corrupt period in Jamaican’s history with the birth of garrison constituencies starting with West Kingston and Edward Seaga…

However it left out very important and pertinent information about the response by the PNP to garrison politics when between the periods 1972 to 1980, seven (7) PNP garrison constituencies of Central and East Kingston, Western, West Central, East Central, South & South West were created…

During the period 1980 to 1989 the JLP created two (2) garrisons, Central St. Catherine and Central Clarendon and was able to snatch back one from the PNP in West Central St. Andrew. During the 18.5 years of the PNP, 1989-2007 other constituencies were either garrisonized of near garrisoned.

Constituencies like South Central, East Central and North West St Catherine, West, Central, and Eastern Westmoreland, Central St Mary, South East St. Ann and Southern St James.

It is not by chance that many of the most notorious gun and drug smugglers during that period was able to re burnish their images and get lucrative contracts from the PNP government so much so that a World Bank report covering most of that period reported that they (World Bank) were only able to account for 52c of every dollar spend by them.

It is estimated by well-informed Jamaicans and the NDM that only about 10c for every dollar spent by the Jamaican government could be properly accounted for over the same period. Over that 18.5 years of the PNP Government, Jamaican corruption and mismanagement nearly equalled Nigeria and surpassed most Africa, South and Central American countries and may have been equal to Haiti under “Papa Doc”.

It is that corruption and the ‘mis’ use of public resources that fuelled and kept alive and active the garrison politics of today. The present JLP government in most part have continues the same policies of the past 18.5 years of PNP. It is almost impossible to distinguish the difference between the PNP and the JLP except that the faces have changed.
- MICHAEL WILLIAMS, NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

Tears of anger and hurt stream down my cheeks as I read your article about a dearly-loved place where I grew up and for which I hold fond memories that in no way match the state of affairs you describe.

I am angry that the cancer of corruption has been festering for so long on the island. I feel hurt that the very people entrusted with the guardianship of the welfare of the state have been the ones responsible for its destruction.

Despite the distinctions you make between the achievement of the people of Haiti and those of Jamaica, I know that Jamaicans have the capacity to rise from the ashes of corruption. After all, it is the island of Paule Bogle and Nanny and the Maroons. The British met a force they had to reckon with.

Jamaicans are a proud delightful people who have it within them the capacity to overthrow the oppression of corruption and create a society where all can live in dignity without fear of one another.
- ELOISE

OUR salvation lies not in blaming others for our condition, but in our ability to effect change in our economic equation. Our grandparents cut sugar cane for the plantation owners to reap huge profits, have nonstop parties in London and other cities in England, build huge mansions, etc.etc.

Now what has really changed?
 Our political leaders have joined forces with that same class of people to control the economy and make huge and indecent profits which they use to purchase their jet planes, fly all over the world and invest their BILLIONS made in JAMAICA.
OUR children are then employed by them and paid subsistence wages.




This has to change. THESE people get tax incentives, pay no custom duties etc.
 OUR people must be brought into the economic mainstream of our economy. The all inclusive model must be scrapped, and participation opened up to our people.
- BARRY A WAHRMANN

Blessings and congrats to Horace Campbell for exposing the connections of the CIA to the drug trafficking and politicians in the Caribbean. The CIA has long been charged with trafficking, but this is the first article I have seen which extends the connection to the Carib. area.
- K.B. KOTH

I am not surprised to learn about the alleged corruption of the elected officials, law-enforcers and the Banks in Jamaica; and their alleged involvement with Drug-lords and other illegal activities.

I hope and pray that Jamaicans will one day soon embrace some good persons who truly love and care about Jamaica and the goals of moving the country forward out of debt, and from corruption. And who will make education one of its top priorities. I believe that an educated person will help to improve the economy of the country in the areas of TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, to name a few. Moreover, these persons would be less likely to be lured into criminal activities.

May God bless Jamaica.
- AVRIL JAMES