THE EDITOR, Sir:FEBRUARY 24, 2004 is 19 years since the death of Rev. Dr. R.M. Cuthbert (1935-1985), former president of the Executive Board of Moravian Church. Dr. Cuthbert was shot and killed by unknown assailants as he drove along South Avenue but until now no one has been punished for that crime.
Calling attention to Cuthbert's death is relevant, not only because he was killed a stone's throw from the place where Senior Superintendent Lloyd McDonald was shot and killed. It is also relevant because it reflects a pattern of brutality we have become used to seeing. We were reminded that SSP McDonald is the third security officer to be killed since the start of the year. In a similar vein, when Cuthbert was killed in 1985, he was the third clergyman to be killed by gunmen in a fortnight.
The Gleaner editorial on the Sunday following Cuthbert's murder said, "we hope the perpetrators of this particular murder will soon be brought to book..." What we fear about the Superintendent's murder, is that it will go the same way as Cuthbert's murder, no one will be brought to justice. Until people who murder are made to pay and know that they will have to pay for the death of others, the mayhem is likely to continue.
It seems that the credibility of the security forces hangs significantly on its ability to bring perpetrators of crime, especially crimes of this character, to justice. The police cannot afford to fail to bring the killers of their fellow officer to justice because it would reflect badly on their professional skills. It is a mockery to law and order if such daring crimes can be committed before witnesses and no one is made to pay.
So, my hope is that the killers for SSP McDonald will be found because only by punishing these criminals that we will reassure ourselves that we live in a society of law and order. Mind you, I have long given up hope that Cuthbert's killers will be found.
I am, etc.,
LIVINGSTONE THOMPSON
P.O. Box 8369, Kingston
