The Editor, Sir:

On June 6, 1996, I wrote a letter to you titled 'The almighty number' (Letter of the Day) in which I suggested that every Jamaican should be given a unique number at birth which would serve for all purposes and at the age of 13, he/she would be required to keep and carry at all times his/her number to which is attached a photograph and fingerprints. I believe that this would reduce crime significantly.

I sent a copy to the then Prime Minister who replied and informed me that he had passed it on to the "appropriate minister". That was the end of it.

I recently sent a copy of the letter to the Minister of National Security and other officers in that ministry but I am yet to get a response, perhaps as to why this is not practical, or if it is being considered.

Traffic accidents, casualties, lawlessness and indiscipline attached to the operation of motor vehicles on the roads are another set of problems that we are endowed with, and it appears to me that sufficient action is not being taken to rectify this.

I am told that at the present time the police have over 150,000 summonses for motorists who have failed to show up at court or failed to pay their traffic fines. That could be translated to approximately two hundred million dollars that could be used to help to equip the police better.

I do not want to believe that I am the only one thinking here, but it seems to me that I could collect every single cent of that money and at the same time reduce road casualties and accidents and install discipline into the driving public.

It is quite simple.

(1) Set up a department with civilians, perhaps with a police officer in order to avoid the necessity of passing new laws.

(2) Give amnesty from prosecution to all persons with outstanding tickets to pay up by a given date.

(3) Publish in the media the names of all persons with outstanding tickets and the amount due.

(4 Computerise the system to the point where a driver's licence cannot be renewed until the fines are paid and any motor vehicle for which the owner has outstanding tickets cannot be licensed.

(5) Equip the police to call in for routine identification of persons stopped on the streets and if such persons are 'wanted'or have outstanding traffic tickets, the appropriate action is taken.

(6) It is very important that he police desist from soliciting and or accepting bribes from motorists for traffic violations (that too I could fix), and enforce the law to the limit.

It is quite clear why the 'almighty number' is mandatory and necessary. If we implement the above, we would begin to have discipline on the streets in so far as driving is concerned. Children and others would not be mowed down at bus shelters.

Civilised countries have the above, why not us? Perhaps we have no interest in civilised conduct.

I am, etc.,

AL RICHARDS

alfonz112@cwjamaica.com