THE EDITOR, Madam:
IT IS with concern that as a Jamaican living in the US I read Mr. Butch Stewart's tirade about the crime in Jamaica.
While I do agree with his assertions about the authorities ineffectiveness, I strongly disagree with his suggestions that the US government be asked to supply manpower to assist. He forgets to mention that it is the policies of the said US government that has contributed tremendously to our increase in crime through it's deportation policies.
As a frequent traveller to the NY area Mr. Stewart should be well aware of the Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima and Patirc Dorsmond cases among other accusations of nation-wide police brutality coupled with the problem of racial profiling.
I think we should start with the basics. Get the local communities involved in crime fighting, because everyone knows who these "bandits " are. But this will not happen as long as the present attitude of your police towards the citizenry continues - treating everyone like a criminal.
The members of the opposition parties should stop blaming the government for the crime escalation and start working with them in a positive manner to weed out this cancer in the society.
The big question Mr. Stewart is how the hell these guns keep passing through customs? Time to stop calling on "Big Brother" US for help, let us start at home first.
I am etc
PATRICK A BECKFORD
E-mail: pbeckf01@yahoo.com
Branchburg, New Jersey
Via Go-Jamaica
