I am concerned about the content of the Letter of the Day by Opposition spokesman on tourism, Dr Wykeham McNeill, which appeared on September 17, under the headline 'Tourism's Silver Lining'.

The letter seems to question, among other things, the 3.4 per cent increase in stopover arrivals, as recently announced by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. Our Research and Market Intelligence Unit provided the statistics that informed the minster's remarks. This information originates from the Immigration Department.

Credible statistics

My actions, as chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board and those of the JTB's employees, are directed by factual information derived from constant research. Our Research Unit has, over many years, consistently produced creditable statistics and other information, which we have disseminated to the public without fear or inaccuracy or contradiction.

This was the case when Dr McNeill was minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism, relying on the very same unit and its staff. It is true today.

Is Dr McNeill privy to information to the contrary? Is he saying that the staff of the unit, who are the same people he relied on when he was minister of state, have inexplicably lost credibility? I invite him to share such any such information with us.

I am, etc.,

JOHN LYNCH

Chairman

Jamaica Tourist Board