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Premier Graham paints a promising picture of the achievements of his government en route to self-sufficiency; the direction is sound. But underlying the major challenges still ahead is the community capacity for developing the human resources essential to productivity. This is the domain of the community non-profit sector, which his government has pledged to strengthen. Many issues can be addressed close to home, where people live and work.

For example, the current labour shortage results partly from the loss of a generation of young people who were abandoned by the school system when vocational courses were eliminated. Many of them are still here; they are a valuable pool of potential workers, wasting away in often unproductive and unsatisfying pursuits.

Community-based programs have helped many youth make the transition from unemployment to the work force. The non-profit sector knows how to do it, but needs consistent government investment to succeed.

Another example is health care. Millions of dollars are poured into hospitals and nursing homes, despite the expressed preference of seniors for home care, which reduces costs and stress levels while providing employment for local caregivers. Professional home care is a system in crisis. Salaries are low, training is scarce, and recruitment is desperate. Significant government investment in home care could decrease health care costs and stimulate local economies, yet the government seems oblivious to its possibilities.

Communities are society's bedrock, which has been greatly eroded.

Self-sufficiency requires investment to build the social infrastructure. This is urgent.

SUE RICKARDS

Lower Queensbury

Anonymous gift was appreciated

My husband, Mayo, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) two years ago. The impact that this horrible disease has on our lives is incomprehensible to those who have not been touched by ALS.

Two weeks ago we received a letter by mail. Inside was an appreciative note from one of Mayo's former students together with a generous money order to help with numerous ALS expenses.

It wasn't just the money order that caused us to smile through our tears. It was the knowledge that Mayo had touched someone's life and made a difference in their living a successful life.

As a teacher you hope to be helping students reach their full potential by imparting skill and knowledge. But it is rare for a teacher to be told by a student that you have had a positive effect on their life. By reaching out to him this particular student of Mayo's did just that and it filled his heart and soul with joy.

So, thank you whoever you are.

Now you are the one who has made a difference.

And we are forever grateful.

MAYO AND DIANA PEACOCK

Quispamsis

Rehabilitation beats incarceration

Congratulations to Karen Dennison for speaking out about the need for more adequate treatment for women struggling with addictions (Sept. 24) She stated that long-term residential services are available for men but nor for women and that there are fewer rehabilitation programs scheduled for women that for men.

She also lamented the lack of programs and addiction counsellors in the provincial prisons.

Volunteers from the Elizabeth Fry Society have been a weekly presence in the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre for more than 20 years. We completely agree with Ms. Dennison that there is a great need for therapy in the prisons. We also believe that those with addictions problems should be offered an opportunity to enter a recovery program.

It is a sad commentary on our society when sick people have to go to jail.

Wouldn't it make more sense to use our limited tax dollars on rehabilitation instead of incarceration?

MARIANNA L. STACK

President, Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John

Cross isn't a replica of one on Partridge

I recently attended the simple yet moving ceremony in which a new time capsule was placed under the Celtic Cross memorial at St. Patricks Square. I hope my grandchildren, or even my great grandchildren are here to see it opened in 50-75 years, and see the Partridge Island items I placed in the capsule.

In the article about this ceremony the writer made a few mistakes in comparing this Cross with the one on the island. The 1967 Cross is not a replica of the 1927 Partridge Island Cross. The St. Patricks Square is symbolic of the island's Cross.

The Cross on the island does not commemorate the 2,000 Irish immigrants who died in the 1840s. It only commemorates the Irish immigrants who died in the summer of 1847, not of any other time period.

In the late 1980s the Orange Lodge erected a monument dedicated to all Irish of the Protestant faith who died on the island, regardless of time period.

In 1985 the Saint John Jewish community erected their marker for those Jewish immigrants buried there.

In 1985 the Celtic Cross on the island was restored at a cost of $100,000 and rededicated in a ceremony in which over 200 people attended. One of them had attended the 1927 dedication. The grave site of Mr. McArthur was also marked.

Those who have not seen what the original Celtic Cross looks like can visit my web site at: www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/Heritage/PartridgeIsland

HAROLD E. WRIGHT

Saint John

Find something that challenges a child

I read the article on little girls growing up and I agree with concerns about the state of "girlhood" today. I wish to tell you that all is not lost.

My daughter, 14, was wise at a young age. I often commented that she had more confidence in herself at three years than I did at 33.

Then she started school. As she went through the first few grades, her intelligence made her stand out, but the confident little girl that I knew was disappearing as she compared herself to others.

My middle son had started Tae Kwon Do, and I could see her getting more and more interested.

After he had been at it for about six months, my daughter joined. During her journey from white belt to black belt, she has faced obstacles such as testing for belts, breaking boards, and not passing her green belt test on her first try because she didn't break the board.

I was so proud of the way she handled herself.

Two years after my kids started TKD, I joined and I have achieved the level of red belt on my way to black belt. I'm not saying that TKD is for everyone, but every person needs to have something that challenges them to become the best person they can be, and a network of those who are there to support them.

Raise your child in love and support, not worry and fear, and keep people close by who share your values.

MICHELLE COLLINS

Moncton

Dialogue will resolve conflict

The history of all past Afghanistan conflicts have confirmed the truth and reality of the recent comment by British Army commander Mark Carleton-Smith about an absolute victory in Afghanistan being improbable or impossible.

The recent talks in Saudi Arabia between the Afghan government and Taliban emphasized that this conflict is going to be eventually resolved by dialogue rather than fighting. The crucial mission of NATO and Canadian forces is to rebuild infrastructure, promote jobs and education, maintain security of citizens and most importantly train Afghan soldiers so they can win the counterinsurgency war and protect and defend freedom and democracy in their country. These reasonable objectives are possible before our mandate is concluded in 2011. Canada has played a prominent and important role in Afghanistan. We can be very proud of our brave and committed soldiers.

HAROLD PHALEN

Fredericton

Non-elected groups need accountability

The editors of the Telegraph-Journal are so busy defending taxpayer funded business initiatives such as the Blueprints Benefit and Enterprise Saint John that they fail to address the real issue: accountability.

These non-elected organizations, whose accountability to the taxpayer and voters is not very clear, have supported controversial policies.

Anyone who raises questions is called "anti business." I call this attitude undemocratic. As a taxpayer who has no say about my taxes supporting these efforts, I say, let's have less hype and more scrutiny.

GREG MARQUIS

Quispamsis