The Editor, Sir:

It is nothing short of fascinating that the JLP has the guts to make the relationship between the dons, who run the day-to-day affairs of the various garrison communities of Kingston, and the politicians these dons have helped to put in Parliament, evident for all to see. What better idea than for the dons in Parliament - side by side with their political benefactors.

However unfortunate the fact might be, it is nevertheless a fact that dons have the power to represent the interest of garrison communities in Jamaica, and that is so whether K.D. Knight and A.J. Nicholson want it that way or not.

Let us face it. Dons are a staple of the communities in which they wield their control. And, although their power is illegitimate, that power is theirs nonetheless. As such, their voices have a right to be heard just as much as the voices of the leaders of legitimate community and social organisations.

After all, these dons are individuals, who have stood up for the people of their communities when the system ignored their social conditions. These are the individuals who, by whatever means readily obtainable, have sought to protect these communities and safeguard the survival of the residents. Their voices are heard by the politicians in private every five years, so why not in a public forum for all to see?

The PNP should not be playing 'holier-than-thou' on this issue. The members of parliament need to agree to let the chickens come home to roost and let the eggs fall where they may.

We might be surprised to discover that this might be the best thing for crime prevention in Jamaica, listening to what the criminals have to say about the cause of crime, how to prevent it and the potential impact of the proposed crime prevention legislation. We might learn a thing or two about the latent negative effects of the proposal, on the society as a whole, that only a garrison don would have know-ledge of.

Unfortunately, I do not think the dons would show up, even if invited to Parliament, why would they give their benefactors the opportunity to scrutinise their work in public?

I am, etc.,

SHELDON CHANNER

sheldon_channer@yahoo.com

Bloomfield, NJ

Via Go-Jamaica