THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE LEADERSHIP of our PSOJ, Chamber of Commerce, churches and like 'clubs' must embark on enlightening their members and the leaders of our country on how we should go about dealing with the chronic crime problem.
First we must realise and accept that we live in an extremely corrupt society and it's not just the criminals that are caught, that wear the badge of corruption, but politicians, police, 'club' members, lawyers, doctors etc.
This being accepted, we must then decide on real punishment, as a means of deterring these men and women of honour, and poetic rhetoric, from continuing in their evil ways. We cannot just pray for them to change, as most of these people don't even know God, therefore don't fear his wrath.
We should have a period of real forgiveness. Forgive the PNP for the Green Bay, and Orange Street atrocities; forgive the JLP for its inability to purge itself, thus denying this country from having an alternative; forgive the police for standing silent, behind their known criminal colleagues; forgive the political pawns who are now in prisons; forgive the tax-dodgers and talk-show hosts who have wronged us.
Thus provide us with a chance to really prosecute and punish from here on. This would allow justice to be administered free of all guilt, and fear of reprisals from those who would wish to hide the truth.
There need not be any public confessions, just anyone found guilty of a crime committed after that Day of Forgiveness, be punished to the full extent of the law regardless of who they be. Because we are a people with such short memories the punishment must be long and hard, lest we forget, and let them out.
There should be graver penalties for those convicted of creating divisions within the society, and setting neighbour against neighbour.
Finally the most serious cause of the decay of values in our society can be attributed to those responsible for trading in hard drugs.
These traders are wealthy, ruthless people, and are looked up to by poor uneducated children, whose only ambition is to emulate them.
The penalty for importation and distribution of these substances should be death. This has to be the penalty, as these traders are so powerful that they can corrupt society even from behind bars. Let 's start the renovation of our country today. Serious problems require a drastic approach.
I am etc.,
ANTHONY MOYSTON
coyabo@btinternet.com.
119 Cherry Garden Lane
Newport,
Saffron Walden
Essex, UK
Via Go-Jamaica
