THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WRITE after reading 167 killed in May, 49 slain last week, 746 killed since January as reported in The Gleaner under the headline 'Murder Mania'.
To curb Jamaica's crime problem: (a) hang all currently on death row; ignore Amnesty International; (b) disarm all civilians now. Too often people are killed just for their guns, plus nobody is safe simply because one has a gun; (c) call a gun amnesty for 30 well published days and on the 31st day, anyone caught with a gun should serve 25 years in jail for the first gun; (d) install security cameras islandwide to monitor/identify crime as it occurs. This would serve as an electronic witness; (f) tighten our borders; using Jamaica as a trans-shipment point must stop.
Any non-citizen/citizen caught transporting hard drugs eg. coke, crack, heroin to get 50 years in jail or be released on his/her 65th birthday. Vessels of crime to be seized as well as all other assets that the criminal possesses; (g) Government to build secure prisons; burglar bars belong on prisons not on residential houses. Criminals to work and thereby support themselves. If necessary, chain them. They have chained us for too long; (h) Open treatment centres for drug users. These centres to have a work component so the patient contributes economically to his/her recovery.
After 31 years in America and 21 years in the criminal justice system where I served as an officer of the court, I find myself imprisoned here in the U.S.A, UNABLE TO RETURN TO JAMAICA, THE ONLY PLACE ON EARTH THAT I TRULY LOVE.
Our tourist industry is performing way below its potential. HUMAN BUTCHERING in Jamaica must stop. Please Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Bruce GOLDING, enough words, let's DO something about crime.
I am, etc.,
L.A. JONES
lawjones4@hotmail.com
Hartford, Connecticut, USA
