The Editor, Sir:

On the eve of this Heroes Day celebration, there is a feeling of profound sadness hanging over the island, a pall of gloom.

It is gloom that is being felt by those who love this beautiful island not for what it can give us, but because we see it as our heritage, that which has been entrusted to us by God, and for which we are grateful. Therefore, we take great pride in trying to preserve it for future generations.

However, we are grieving today, as criminal elements are about to sever our attachment, killing our hopes and dreams while the Government seems powerless.

As we celebrate this Heroes Day, let us find a fitting way to commemorate it. If we find a way to tackle the vexing issue of crime, we would have done something heroic.

My suggestion is that instead of sitting at home cowering in fear, let us begin to pool intellectual resources in order to find a workable solution to effectively reduce the scourge of criminality in our midst.

Grieving

Lovers of Jamaica are grieving because there are those who seem unmindful of the level of criminality that is pervading our society. But let me inform those who are ignorant. We are on the verge of becoming captive to an organised band of criminals who are brutal, obdurate and vicious. If you are not yet aware, be informed. Several business people across Jamaica are paying extortion to criminals and those who refuse to pay have to close or face the consequences of being viciously and brutally murdered.

The police are too embarrassed to admit that we are in the middle of a crisis. Men who do not work are able collect millions of dollars every day from those who work.

Parasites

The story is told that in a certain mid-island town, everybody who owns and operates any form of business, from handcart to Western Union, pays extortion. These criminals are like parasites and these things are not done under the cover of darkness.

The Spanish Town and May Pen bus terminals are accessible to keen observers. A careful scrutiny would reveal how criminals have taken full control of operations in these vicinities. The people who use these parks, especially Spanish Town, are forced to ride only on buses designated by thugs; drivers and conductors are all under the control of criminals. The criminals have driven out the police from the area. Laugh if you want, but it is true.

According to Danville Walker's letter to the editor a few days ago, the level of criminality in our midst is so pervasive that it has infiltrated every sector of the society.

I am, etc.,

HUNMIN CAMPBELL

hunminc@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica