The Editor, Sir:

I read your article in The Sunday Gleaner dated the 26 December. I am a Jamaican living in the United Kingdom, and I am afraid of coming back to my country of birth due to the corruption of the policemen and women who should be protecting the decent law-abiding citizens of our beautiful country.

I was in Jamaica last year spending holiday with my wife who was visiting the island for the first time. I was about to do a right turn off Hope Road, which is lawful as there were no signs saying no right turn, when two policemen pulled up alongside us saying I cannot turn there.

I asked why, he then said if I turn there, he would charge me. When he heard my wife's accent, he pulled me one side and demanded $15,000 or I would be spending the night in jail. I gave it to him and left the island the following day as my wife became nervous and afraid to go out.

It is time the Government of Jamaica take a firm and positive step to weed out the corrupt policemen and women who are giving the decent, hard-working and honest police a very bad name.

Not only did I give him the money, but our car was searched and dug up properly. He did not find anything.

With the money in his pocket, they both drove off leaving us to put it back together, which took us awhile to do so.

Jamaica will never see us again due to the embarrassment of two corrupt officers.

I am, etc.,

ANTHONY COWAN

cowananthony@yahoo.co.uk

London

Via Go-Jamaica