Letters

The Editor, Sir:

I want to challenge all citizens of this country, including public officials, experts in their fields and others that the present crime initiative will not solve our crime problem. Instead, it will lead to more organised criminal enterprise.

The rationale for my challenge is based on anecdotal evidence emerging from the '80s during which the Jamaica Constabulary Force was given additional powers under the Suppression of Crimes Act.

In spite of the longevity of the act, the security forces failed to curtail the growth and spread of criminal activities within the island. To combat criminal enterprise requires money and hard work, none of which is part of the current strategies.

The security forces are using brute force instead of intelligence. This will not go very far and reminds us of slavery. Young men are made to feel like criminals, even before thinking about it, when members of the security force can arbitrarily and without just cause, lock them up mostly from the inner city and keep them in custody for an untold number of days without reason then releasing them without even an apology.

Criminality

Paradoxically there are those think that every inner-city youth is a criminal and when they are locked up, the police are only doing them a favour; but the inner city exists because we fail to provide opportunities for the people.

The lack of money to engage in research to identify the chief causes of criminality in Jamaica is hampering development; it is foolish to fight a ghost that you do not know from whence it came.

On the flip side, you cannot just pour money into ventures that are not properly thought out and implemented. The security forces and their admirers believe that the current crime problem can be solved quickly and easily. There is no quick fix to our crime problem. The Government must not be fooled by the facade of commissioner of police Owen Ellington or the eloquence of Colonel Rocky Meade of the Jamaica Defence Force.

I am, etc.,

HUNMIN CAMPBELL

hunminc@yahoo.com

May Pen PO

Clarendon