The Editor, Sir:

From my interaction with many Jamaican young adults, on Jamaican soil, aged 15 to 30 years old, it was clear that the majority know very little or nothing at all about the performance of our political parties in power in previous years. They do not read.

Our college and university graduates pursue their course of work and graduated, often cum laude, but many know very little about where we are coming from since Independence, why we are where we are today, albeit the road to our political changes and changes in government, and whether we have in fact grown or achieved anything.

Key issue is the performance of our political parties in government as it impacts Jamaica both socially and economically. Political education or awareness seems non-existent. Such apathy impacts our growth and development as a country as we too often exercise our franchise on whims and fantasies.

I am aware that we have made great advancement in Information Technology, with many having access to the Internet at public libraries and post offices. This should be applauded as having a personal computer is beyond the reach of many. I implore our youth and young adults to use their Internet access to educate themselves on the performance of our political parties as Government. I am sure that The Gleaner archive will be invaluable in this exercise, especially for the earlier years, being our oldest newspaper; and the other two major papers for varying perspectives on the latter years.

Young people need to empower themselves with the knowledge of the rise and fall of our political parties in Government, the policies pursued which have an impact on the society and which have contributed to this ascendancy or downfall. We must always strive to change for the better.

I am, etc.,

F.M. WATSON

watsonf@hotmail.co.uk