THE EDITOR, Sir:

I LIVE in New York City, a city with a population of over eight million people. It has a heterogenous population comprising many different races and religion.

For the first three months of 2007, the number of people murdered was 84. Compare that figure with that of Jamaica with a population of only 2.5 million people and notice the disparity.

But such a relatively low murder rate was not always the norm for New York City. Under the leadership of Mayor Dinkins several years ago, crime in the city had skyrocketed to the point where the city had become unliveable. Businesses moved to other safer locales and economically, the city suffered tremendously.

When Rudy Guiliani assumed mayoralty, he implemented several strategies that significantly reduced the crime rate. Businesses moved back to the city and it experienced an economic revival.

The city continues to bloom under the strong and effective leadership of Mayor Bloomberg. New York City is now a haven for new businesses. Tourism is also at its peak.

The Jamaican Government should use the leadership of both mayors Guiliani and Bloomberg as examples. Once crime is curtailed, old businesses will expand and new businesses will enter the marketplace. As unemployment decreases, so will crime.

I am, etc.,

RANDY VASSELLI

Rvasse5@optonline.net

365 Montgomery Avenue

Brooklyn, New York

Via Go-Jamaica