The Editor, Sir:

I learnt, with regret, of the murder of the two constables in Federal Gardens, south St Andrew, on Labour Day. I deeply regret their deaths and express condolences to their families, relatives, friends and colleagues.

As I watched news clippings of the scene of the murders on television, memories of the difficulties involved in patrolling those communities were brought back. During my time in the army, 'walking the zinc fence and crawling the gully bank' was one of the most difficult, frightening and dangerous forms of patrol that anyone could embark upon. As one moved along, you could literally feel the watchful eyes peering at you through the zinc fence and you knew that you were a sitting duck.

Formidable challenge

The zinc-fence communities constitute one of the most dangerous and formidable challenges faced by members of the security forces as they carry out their duties. The quicker we rid communities of these, the better we will be able to control crime in these communities.

Sadly, Mr Editor, rather than taking steps to reduce the number of zinc-fence and gully-bank communities we are fostering and growing them. Zinc-fence communities are emerging in the Falmouth area of Trelawny, the Savanna-la-Mar area in Westmoreland and in the Mammee Bay, Windsor and Ocho Rios areas of St Ann.

In due course, the emerging zinc fence communities will become inaccessible to security forces and will become the most fertile breeding ground for dons, gunmen, extortionists and drug dealers. Perhaps we should learn from this experience, the unfortunate deaths of these two constables, and accept that the existence of the zinc-fence and gully-bank communities is inconsistent with proper community development and the enforcement of law and order.

I am, etc.,

LINTOn GORDON

lpgordon@cwjamaica.com

Duke Street, Kingston