The Editor, Sir:

I am very disturbed at what is taking place in Montego Bay and the wider Jamaica. While I support the Minister of National Security in his very strident rhetoric against criminals, I do not think he is as forceful when the police brutalise citizens and if he thinks that this level of reticence and lack of balance will help solve crime, he is mistaken.

Why can't the police be put under control? The scourge of crime could suffer a blow if politicians and the police change their way of thinking about the rights of people. You cannot have community policing if you give the police a 'blank cheque' on abuse and please don't tell us about culture of the force. The police can do whatever they please and that is why people are scared of helping the police to help them.

The sad irony is, only the people suffer either way. Whenever the river of respect starts flowing in both directions as far as police and civilians are concerned, the petals of the true Jamaica will begin to bloom again. Jamaica is suffering from a politics of power rather than one of service!

I am, etc.,

GARNETT WAITE

gjordel@hotmail.com

St. James

Via Go-Jamaica