Sexless Singapore

The Editor, Sir:

The often heralded Singapore model for the development of small states, mentioned once again by columnist Ian Boyne, has undoubtedly brought many benefits to that one-time backwater swamp of the British Empire, such as low crime rate, economic prosperity, and a clean environment. But Boyne and others should be careful what they wish for.

Apart from limitations on some freedoms Jamaicans have long taken for granted, there is a significant unintended consequence of all that Singaporean central planning which is unlikely to go down too well with Jamaicans.

We are indebted to National Geographic magazine for this nugget. The Singapore government's birth-control programme 'Two Is Enough' has been so successful that native Singaporeans are now faced with extinction. The island must now look to immigrants for survival. All that state planning, prosperity, obedience to law and order has seriously dulled the Singaporean appetite for sex. Government has tried every trick in the book to get the sex rate up, including longer maternity leave, even cash for babies.

Nothing it seems can persuade these happy folks to stand up for their country. Indeed, a survey has found that Singaporeans have less sexual intercourse than any other nation on Earth! And don't bother challenging the authenticity of the survey. It was done by a condom manufacturing company.

I am, etc.,

ERROL A. Townshend

ewat@rogers.com

Ontario, Canada