THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE PLAN for tighter security for the UWI-Mona campus is indeed a good idea. However, one must face the reality that some of the changes within the campus setting over the years, are responsible for the consistency and variation of crimes on the campus in recent times.
The UWI-Mona campus, in my view, is playing some unnecessary multi-purpose roles which encourage criminals to plague the campus. The real issue is that the campus is not concentrating on academics but also on commerce. The number of money-making commercial entities on campus is far too many.
The campus at present plays host to two banks and other major money-making entities such as fast food restaurants. These are, to some degree, responsible for the high level of crime that takes place within the campus surroundings.
The vast amount of land owned by the UWI-Mona campus is indeed a major problem to secure, but these money-making entities only make matters more difficult. I hope that good sense will prevail and the commercial activities and entities are kept at a minimum.
The campus management, therefore, needs to revisit the idea of the present 'commercial divestment' of the property, as this is the main catalyst in attracting criminals to come in and commit the unprecedented levels of crime to which the campus is now exposed.
I am, etc.,
ST. ALBURN MUNROE
sainty@n5.com.jm
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
