Why does planning and development in Jamaica have to be either /or? For instance, with the Trelawny stadium saga, while the Government continues to fantasise about attracting a major international sports team to use the stadium as its training ground, the University of Technology in Jamaica is left wondering.

Ad hoc development, as in the 'Trelawny Stadium', often leads to poor land use and environmental degradation; it impedes economic sustainability and creates white elephants that are very costly to maintain. However, the truth is, if planned properly, the Trelawny Stadium could be used as the impetus for creating a new, vibrant economic base in that great parish.

holistic heritage tourism

Not only could the stadium be used as a training ground, it could be part of the UTech's catering to top-class students; it could be the home ground of a Premier League football team, garnering fans from St Ann and Trelawny. In addition, it could be the stimulus for a well-planned new town - New Falmouth - and the catalyst to transform 'old' Falmouth into a major holistic heritage tourism park.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL BROWN

miguelbro@yahoo.com