Daily crime levels a turn off
published: Friday | July 30, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AS A Jamaican who left the island as a child and would dearly like to return to the country of my birth I despair when I read about the daily crime levels in Jamaica. I believe Jamaica would attract far more visitors and investments if the levels of murders and the general attitude towards productivity were better.

The criminal fraternity who operate within Jamaica so successfully can only do so because the wider community "allows" them to do so. It is long overdue for the wider community to say no more are we going to allow these people to bring shame on the island. When I was a child on the island people left their doors open; now everyone lives behind the "grille" and it would appear be "ruled" by the gun.

NOT AS EASY

Almost every Jamaican you speak to wants to leave the island, many through fear whilst on the other hand many, many Jamaicans living abroad with much to offer realise that living abroad is not as easy as many people on the island think and would dearly love to return to the island but because of the crime problems they are scared that they will be targeted. The Government seems inept in dealing with this problem perhaps because many politicians are the instigators of these problems. I would dearly like to return to the island but when I see decent law-abiding citizens within my family who are now talking about leaving the island I fear that in time it will only be the criminals left on the island and we will have a situation like Somalia.

I am, etc.,

ANNE COLLINS

anne@rdfranks.co.uk

Luton, England

Via Go-Jamaica