Dear Deputy prime minister and minister of Finance,

I wrote to you days before the budget to urge you to take bold economic and financial measures. I likened our national economy to a dramatically sick patient who needed urgent care, intensive surgery and certainly not …… bedside manners! Today, we read in the press that, after ensuring the adoption of those measures, you are being faced with much outcry and even threats on your life.

Recently I came across a book with the following reference to Alexander the Great, which I think is quite appropriate in the present circumstances and which I would like to share with you: “When Alexander the Great was storming a city in Asia, he suddenly found that he was alone. He was standing on the walls of the city and his own troops were retreating and the enemy was all around him. He had a choice. Either he could jump out of the city and join the retreat. Or else he could jump into the city all alone and go for victory. He jumped in. His own troops rallied around him and the city was captured.”

I would like to thank you for steering our vessel in such stormy waters. As rightly remarked by one of the four distinguished visitors who shared their experience with us recently, we are like a small ship in the midst of a storm. The storm may not end soon and can even recur. What we must do is learn to become good and resilient sailors. What you must do is hold the course. And, in the process, never fail to keep on communicating with the sailors, the brave and the disgruntled alike.

<B>P.R.</B>