The Editor, Sir:

Permit me the space to reply to issues related to your 'Monday Interviewee', Dr. Peter Phillips, the Honourable Minister of National Security. I am responding not as any 'camp member' but as Citizen Moyston. Mr. Minister, I am concerned with some of the issues you discussed in your interview. I am sure that no well-thinking Jamaican is against your effort to deal with those who "prey on the citizens of this land, and exploit the people's weakness simply for greed and get away with it." I cannot disagree with a fair and effective approach to the control of crime in Jamaica. We applaud you where your strength is effective and join you to make strong your weakness.

I want to take you to task on the issue of taking risk and the burning of shirts in the party presidential elections. When you were asked if you 'suffered politically' in dealing with criminals and gangsters having political connections, you made a startling response. I quote, "In the recent presidential campaign ... no other candidate had his logos and T-shirts publicly destroyed for the position he had taken against criminal activities ..." There are some very serious implications from this statement regarding the other contenders in that presidential race, but let me deal with what is literal. My observations from the community within which your T-shirts were burned publicly tell me otherwise, Mr. Minister.

Mr. Minister, because many politicians do not have a vision of national interest, because politicians on both sides of the House have lost their connection with the people, some 'gangsters', as they are called, have more 'legitimacy' in certain communities than politicians. They put food on people's tables and have the power in life and death to 'shut down' critical areas of this country. There are, however, the positives and the negatives with this kind of relationship. Let me get back to my observations after the 'Bulbie' killing. Mr. Minister, people were annoyed with you not for the killing per se, but for the manner in which you as National Security Minister presented the killing to the public. Compare your presentation with the carefully worded press release from the commissioner of police and you will get the 'jest' of the story.

Mr. Minister, I do not want to say what you are saying about your contenders and victor in the PNP's presidential race. I think you owe them a public explanation of your response to the issue of 'suffering politically' and the issue of "the position taken against criminal activities". The implications are too strong for this issue to be dealt with secretly. It appears as if you are the only one taking political risk, Mr. Minister. Well-thinking people in this country support any effective measures against criminality, tribalism, garrison politics, bribery in elections and political corruption.

Please clarify your statements, Mr. Minister. In the meantime, many Jamaicans are prepared to stand with you in your challenging job regarding controlling crime in this country and securing the national interest of Jamaica.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

LOUIS E.A. MOYSTON

125 1/2 Constant Spring Road,

Kingston 8