I know that I speak on behalf of all well-thinking women in Jamaica, when I say how angry and saddened I am at the shooting of the women in Tivoli Gardens by members of the security force. Bad enough that our women and children are being murdered every day by gunmen, but for this to happen to women who were not doing anything wrong, by men who are supposed to protect them, is unforgivable.

After the massacre in west Kingston in 1997 and again in 2001, one would think that the security forces would tread lightly with people in this area and ensure that there would be a different approach taken. This must stop and it must stop now! While we have no problem with the Police conducting their investigations and carrying out work to rid the country of crime and violence, we cannot and will not tolerate any more innocent people paying the price for what now seems to be a deliberate action against the people of west Kingston.

We demand to have a Police force that is made responsible for its actions. We will not allow any more innocent people to die or to be wounded without cause.

- Sally Porteous, general secretary, National Organisation of Women

I was reading an article in The Gleaner titled 'Tivoli Assault'. The police said the operation, touted as one of the largest ever spearheaded, was an attempt to capture gunmen involved in the murder of three police officers in May. As expected, the human rights lobby group, Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) and Generation 2000 (G2K), all came out to condemn the actions of the police force.

Where are these groups when police officers are killed or injured? Where are these same groups when innocent women and children are shot and killed or raped? Why aren't they out there condemning the murderers and rapists with the same swift efforts to criticise the police force? These men and women are out there everyday risking their lives to create a safer environment for the Jamaican public.

If we don't show respect or show our support for them, how can they perform their duty knowing that they are walking on a thin line with all these watchdog groups hounding their every move?I know there are a few bad apples in the police force, but that is everywhere. It seems that after SSP Adams was removed from the front lines, the murder rate shot up. If we had 14 SSP Adamses in every parish, maybe things would be different.

- Kevin Williams, kevinwilliams@cfl.rr.com, Via Go-Jamaica

What is happening to our beloved country, Jamaica?

Bruce Golding, the Opposition Leader, was almost shot and possibly killed this week. The wayward members of our nation's security forces need to be thrown out as soon as possible. The Police Federation, under its able leadership, should devise strategies to rid itself of wayward officers.

Injuring four citizens of the west Kingston area during operations is not at all acceptable. To my understanding, several of the injured were women. Is this not a crying shame? Where is the revulsion of civil society? Are they not cognizant of the fact if it were not for the early presence of Mr. Golding, other political officials and the media, there could have been a repeat of the July 2001 massacre or possibly worse!

Everyone now knows that Tivoli Gardens is not a community devoid of criminals, but the same exists in many other communities; for example look at the cold-bloodedness gripping the Maxfield Avenue area.

Incidentally, Tivoli Gardens is said to have the lowest crime rate in the Kingston Metropolitan Area. Yet, Tivoli Gardens always seems to be unfairly targeted by the security forces.