Re 'Saved from the gallows - a case study'. OK ... great article ... but how will you get those so-called 'Jamaicans' to read it, stop listening to their spiritual leaders, none of whom clearly defines which SPIRIT has sent them?.

If our political leaders carry on like stereotypical 'niggers', then how can our average Jamaican who beckons to these apes practise any common sense?

- James A. McBean jmcbean2@jhu.edu

MPP Institute for Policy Studies Johns Hopkins University

I want to commend Ian Boyne for his article on the death penalty in The Sunday Gleaner of November 30. I do believe that a lot of the points he raised were not taken into consideration by the parliamentarians and the naysayers alike.

I do agree with a lot of the views expressed in the article. I really wish that this issue is looked into more seriously, and that people like those so-called human-rights activists would get the facts before they utter some of these fictional statistics about the death penalty not having an impact on these murders.

- Malcolm

I am a concerned member of the Tredegar Park Community. Over the last few months, we have been seeing an increase in gang violence. Of late, it has escalated. The few persons who still remain are in fear for their lives. Our children are scared and traumatised.

This has worsened since we have not seen the presence of the police. I hurt to see people who have struggled to build their lives and homes leave for fear of their lives, or because 'the don' ordered them to. One night last week, the community was invaded from as early as 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning and not one of those men was caught. My question is: What is the role of the police/army? Why have they not planned a curfew? Why are we not feeling their efforts?

- SSTS, dentas17@hotmail.com Tredegar Park, Spanish Town Via Go-Jamaica

The best deterrent to crime is to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the conditions that breed crime. Poverty, corruption in the Government and police, lack of education, these are good areas to start. For as long as Jamaica experiences the level of poverty, the lack of opportunity and the amount of corruption it now has, crime will be its number-one problem. Hanging people will never change that fact!

- Jambak, takjambak@yahoo.com Port Antonio, Portland Via Go-Jamaica