I am joining with others, as advocates, to reintroduce, revive or re-invent the volunteer 'home guards' system as in the 1970s.

I had enjoyed the positive effects of the system. I worked in the inner city as a salesman by day and after that, I would go to my rural business place until 11 p.m.

The volunteer 'home guard' accompanied the armed police constable who rode with me for the day and would feel quite secure. This system allowed at least one constable to be available for other security detail.

This served as a deterrent to crime. Further, some of the 'home guards' were later employed by the Ministry of Security as district constables.

- Gerald A. Stewart

geraldstewart@bellsouth.net

Traffic corruption

The National Council for Road Safety continues to make appeals to Jamaican drivers to be more careful on the roads and families continue to mourn over the loss of loved ones who die in these accidents.

The reality is that there simply is too much corruption within the agencies that exist to ensure that drivers observe the road traffic laws and that motor vehicles are roadworthy. Road fatalities will continue unabated until the authorities decide to address this issue.

Increasing traffic fines and pleading with drivers to drive more carefully will not decrease the incidence of these accidents. If a driver breaks a road traffic law, he or she must pay the penalty. If a vehicle is not roadworthy, it shouldn't be on the road. If persons do not take and pass their driving test, they should not be issued a driver's licence. It's as simply as that.

- L. Davy

lawestcarr@hotmail.com