THE EDITOR SIR:
CRIME AND violence in all its form is prevalent in our society today. This is my personal experience. On May 31, 2001, I was convicted in the Montego Bay RM Court on drug charges. I served an 81-day sentence and paid a hefty fine of $120,000. This was the reward I received for attempting to export ganja to St. Lucia.
Imagine, if possible, the squalid living quarters, the bed bugs, verbal and physical abuse; constantly living in fear; having to always watch your back, watch your step and the rules never ended. It was by sheer luck and faith in the supreme Creator I escaped still sane; or maybe not quite.
One would think that with all that I went through while being 'rehabilitated' I could now start anew. Sadly this is not so. You see, society does not forgive. What I did was wrong in the 'sight' of the blind Jamaican law, even though I totally denounce the outlawing of God's creation: marijuana. I paid my price for the so-called 'crime' I committed, but no one wants to forgive me.
Over the period since my return form hell house, I have made numerous applications and attended interviews and was turned down by unforgiving uppity snobs because I now have a criminal record. So here we are again at square one. Again I am faced by financial woes with the legal fees from my 'little' experience unpaid.
We must recognise that we will always have this scourge called crime in our everyday lives if we don't stop ostracising persons with criminal records; especially when they are completely reformed and ready to make a meaningful contribution to the welfare of our country.
I am, etc.,
GARTH F. BROWN
lovergarth@hotmail.com
Great Valley PO
Hanover
