Portia's simplistic analysis
How can a seemingly intelligent woman like Portia Simpson Miller make such a broad-based statement with regard to the increase in the crime rate? Looking at the crime statistics for 2005, 2006 and 2007, the indication is that 2005 has been the bloodiest by far.
I would urge Mrs. Simpson Miller not be silly and childish. Does she expect that Mr. Golding should be out on the street policing it? Does she expect Mr. Golding, in 100 days, to rectify the mistakes made by hers and P. J. Patterson's administration? This is a poor reflection on her as a leader.
- D. James, Buckinghamshire, U.K., djames@bucksgfl.org.uk
Spruce up Jamaica
The 'Spruce Up Jamaica' campaign, undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism is a good start to national effort to beautify and uplift the aura of our rural and urban environments. This programme should be sustained beyond the set time frame, and should also be extended to what is considered non-tourist areas - all places have potential.
We must spruce up Jamaica for ourselves before we can truly come forward with confidence to promote it as a paradise for visitors. This, therefore, will have implications for creating a 'sprucing-up synergy' among local government, NGOs, community groups and the relevant agencies of central government. The 'sprucing up' effort over the long term must be aided by a full consciousness of pressing environmental issues facing our country, because without this, any sprucing up effort or campaign can be deemed hypocritical and piecemeal. We must aim for holistic efforts at all times.
The sprucing up message is a good one; let us support it, not only for tourism, but for each other and spread the message further.
- Mark B. F. Pike, President, UWI Tourism Society, mark@cct-jamaica.com
Hang them high!
I am responding to the letter 'Jamaica is one big coffin' which is right on target in its assessment. The British police are a big waste of time. What have they done to help reduce crime so far?
Over the years, the Patterson administration allowed other countries to tell it how to run Jamaica - what to do and what not to do. Now we are among the leading countries in the world in terms of murders per capita and they have not offered us a solution to our problem.
I hope this new prime minister will give these criminals something to think about. These animals need to be put away for very long time.
Al Miller, in his Letter of the day (December 11), said, over the past 25 years, we have failed miserably at crime fighting, tackling the fruit instead of the root. Well, the only method is hanging - it is both a long- and short-term solution.
- Daisy Brown-Walker, Yallahs P.O., St. Thomas
