Complicit in smear campaign

The Editor, Sir:

I am appalled at Jamaica for branding a lone man as a 'drug kingpin' at the whim of the United States government. Was this branding substantiated? There are many exaamples of the US government labelling people, especially minorities, and making their case worldwide to smear blacks. Look what damage they caused to the reputation of Michael Jackson even when they had firm proof of his innocence?

Innocent victims who are already victims of poverty are confronted yet again in their helplessness. The comment that "Dudas is next to God" should be seen by Christians as a point to ponder. Why was one man so influential on changing the lives of the impoverished when he was not in Parliament?

'Drug lordship'

With the term 'drug lord' pronounced on this man whom I believe is innocent but successful in business, I am forced to think about attitudes to allopathic medicines. How often do US drug companies send their expired medications to countries like Haiti and the Caribbean islands? This to me is 'drug lordship' - profiteering for gain, with damaging agents.

The Jamaican Government should be making waves in emancipating the poor, beginning poverty relief programmes, improving all schools and access to education, reforming hospitals for all citizens to have access to decent and immediate health care and curbing the contributions and support of the stinking rich who horde the benefits of this awesome country. They should investigate and find solid proof rather than join in a task that mirrors the Iraq inquisition that was once tagged a 'war'.

The United States and other countries have to answer how the drugs get into their country in the first place and see who is aiding the criminals they accuse. They will find most of the real criminals hide behind the cloak of public office, as we saw in the Michael Jackson smear campaign.

I am, etc.,

B. HALLS

halls.law@hotmail.com