The Editor, Sir:

Every law-abiding citizen of Jamaica will express his/her concern for and fear of the now common occurrence of brutal criminal acts in Jamaica. The possibility of imprisonment if apprehended is now a failed element on its own. My view, and that of many, is that corporal punishment as an addition in the form of the cat-o'-nine will prove to be a deterrent. No one likes pain and I am sure the lashes from the cat-o'-nine are painful. It may even be more effective if done in public.

I am aware that there are voices that oppose this punishment, as they claim it to be inhuman. The question is: Are the brutal acts of assaults, robberies, rapes and murders not inhuman?

No amount of prayer breakfasts, meetings of senior police officers and/or politicians will stem this tide of atrocities in this beautiful land of ours. There are laws in our justice system to be utilised but our political leaders have been bowing to pressure from sources with their own axe to grind.

It is not satisfactory just to apprehend criminals, but there must be effective deterrents that can prevent or at least reduce crimes making our land a safer place. Only prison when violent criminals are caught is not the answer. If it were, the prison population would not be the size it is now.

Governments should govern and, as one philosopher said, where they don't, the citizens have the right to refuse to be governed.

The laws of the country cannot be left fallow any longer.

I am, etc.,

LES FRANCIS

lesmond72@yahoo.com

Mandeville

Via Go-Jamaica