The Editor, Sir:

I see from newspaper reports that there is talk of amending Section 9 (3) of the Defence Act, granting the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers the power to "search, apprehend and detain independently". I think this would be a step in the right direction.

I lost my brother in October 2007, a victim of violent crime in St. Andrew. Our beautiful country is losing its prestigious image abroad because of the uncontrolled high crime level. The Minister of National Security should do whatever is in his constitutional capacity as chief executive to empower the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the JDF to fight crime and restore peace and stability in our nation. The anger that I feel knowing my brother died at the hands of some gun-toting criminals is unbearable.

Whatever it takes

Whatever needs to be done to maintain law and order without infringing on the individual rights of our citizens should be done in the interest of national security. It was done in the United States after 9/11, and we Americans are living with that reality right now.

Mr. Bruce Golding, you are in charge. If criminals want to create confusion and mayhem in Jamaica, simply institute measures to extricate them from our society

I am, etc.,

ROBERT C. GRANT

isldmn333@yahoo.com

Chicago, Illinois