THE EDITOR, Sir:

Please allow me to send this open letter to our new Prime Minister.

Mr. Golding, congratulations on your victory at the polls and also on the wonderful statesmanlike speech you made after the preliminary count was announced. It appears, however, that you and your team will have no honeymoon period as you will certainly have to drive full speed into tackling the school fee issue.

I have no doubt that with the strength you have displayed over the years you are up to this task. On, Wednesday, 5th September, I listened to many callers on the radio expressing their concerns about what will happen when schools reopen.

Our son is in sixth form at a prominent Kingston high school and sixth formers were asked to assist with the orientation exercises.

Imagine my shock and absolute rage when he returned with a voucher for "Development Fund" for $28,700. Over the past six years this fund has ranged from a low of $4000 to a high of $8000!!!

It seems that some schools will be trying to be 'creative' and I urge my new Prime Minister to please apply his brakes very firmly on this creativity.

I must admit that a red flag went up in my mind when I listened to the speech of the outgoing J.T.A President and I certainly hope that no one in Jamaica will be trying to undermine a real attempt to improve Jamaica's education system.

Finally, I urge our new 'driver', whose strength has been so clearly demonstrated, to act NOW.

I am, etc.,

SONIA KING

Furious Parent