The Editor, Sir:

The proposal to give the police access to the database of voter fingerprints stems from a proposal by me based on my concern on learning that the police do not have access to such data to assist with their efforts to solve crimes.

The only prints available are of criminals who had been previously booked, which is not much help when trying to solve crimes committed by persons not in that data bank.

This tool is readily available and heavily relied on in solving crimes in countries which have the most advanced criminal justice systems, which is what I feel we are aspiring to.

National Data Bank

I innocently - out of ignorance - circulated this suggestion by email to some media practitioners and organisations, politicians, civil society leaders etc., asking for their thoughts on the subject as well as suggesting that we lobby for a national data bank which is urgently needed and which, if acted upon, would serve numerous purposes in the interest of good governance.

I was careful to emphasise that this would have to be subject to decisions by the country's political directorate.

I thank Danville Walker, director of elections, for his support, as he, like myself, seems to clearly see the importance of supplying this essential crime-solving tool in the interest of trying to control the scourge of crime and murder.

I am, etc.,

JEAN B. ANDERSON J.P

Mandeville