Quarantine by sections
published: Saturday | October 1, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WHY CAN'T the Government quarantine a high-crime area and then experiment with this area with all the ideas that they have on paper to see what works and what doesn't? I know crime initiatives taken by the Government usually have to be watched over a period of time to see whether or not they are working, but whatever idea it is, people are desperate for some results in their favour.

That would be the only sensible thing to do right now. Another thing that they can do is temporarily take away people's right to solve this crime epidemic, which is going nowhere but closer to home. Forget about human rights, this is a move to prevent this country from being turned into another Algeria or Colombia, if we are not already there. They should have the citizens vote to say who will temporarily give up their rights in order to get the country back under control. With the crime rate back under control, the Goverment will then fill these gaps with attractive incentives to prevent an individual from going back to a life of crime. How is it that they cannot also have small surveillance cameras mounted to keep track of everything that is going on in these troubled communities?

I felt as though I had to write, as I'll be visiting the island soon and feeling terrified from reading the headlines of more people being killed. But this is my home. Like most Jamaicans abroad, we still visit regardless of what's going on.

I am, etc.,

ANDREW HAZZARD

Toronto, Ontario

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica