The Editor, Sir:

I am concerned that Jamaica is at a major crossroad and is on the verge of some serious instability. I am not one to usually cast gloom and doom over any situation but I am very sceptical that we have the leadership necessary to take us out of these crises.

The government seems unable to get its bearings right on the crime issue. This is causing great fear and trepidation across the nation. The Prime Minister has the country talking about the possible criminalisation of driving without having your driver's licence and the possible detention of persons from 48 hours to a maximum 48 days before you are charged.

This discussion is taking place while the Public Defender is revealing that only one ballistic expert is employed to test the weapons that are suspected to be involved in the hundreds of murders that have taken place since this year and the thousands that have taken place in the last few years.

This also comes against the background, where only less than 30 per cent of our murders are solved.

Leadership battle

The Opposition PNP is engaged in a leadership battle between two adversaries who just very recently went through that same exercise at great cost. They want to try and wrest control of the country from the JLP, who have a mammoth task of repairing the battered country from the 18 years of mismanagement and neglect suffered under the PNP.

My major beef at this time, however, is the seeming aloofness of the government in confronting the major issues facing the country and the possible political implications.

The finance minister is reported to have said that the Cash Plus fallout would have no implications on the financial system. Yes, two hundred and fifty billion dollars from a small economy as ours will not have any effect (not my words). I am waiting quite eagerly to see if the same will be said of OLINT's troubles.

Control lost

The word on the street is that only a few big men are eating up the apple, and going the rounds buying all that is in sight. The poor and underclass feel that they have lost any control of the only thing that they have - their country. They are anticipating their rights being taken away and trampled on by the State. They are seeing the erosion of their meagre income being eaten up in increased food costs and higher utility bills. They are being exposed to increased violence in their own communities. Their problems are growing by the day and swelling like a gunpowder keg. We are at the edge of a precipice.

The poor have their way of venting their frustrations and those ways usually have devastating consequences for the country. The leadership of the country needs to mobilise the citizens and point us in a direction that will avert the impending implosion. We need to avoid the 'Hatianisation' of this beautiful nation.

I am, etc.

SHAWN JOHNSON

jamaicanshawn@yahoo.com

Mandeville

Via Go-Jamaica