Dire straits

THE EDITOR, Madam:

HERE WE go again. The crime rate escalates to a point where the citizens live in constant fear and Mr. Butch Stewart once again lashes out at the Government to try something new and radical like seeking foreign help to assist with their ineffective efforts.

The Government will now over-exert it's already exhausted and demoralised police force, which may reduce the murder rate from 20 a week to 15, but only for a limited period. During this period, the Government and police heads will declare victory while the crime slowly creeps back into the system at an alarming rate until Mr. Stewart explodes on the subject again.

But this time he has put his own business interests in tourism on the line by publishing the crime and violence stories on the front page of his own newspaper, the Observer. He, like the rest of the law-abiding citizens, feels helpless and distraught and can only pray for a solution. It is the Government's responsibility to provide security to the nation and the only meaningful solution I have heard is for the Government to swallow their pride and get foreign help in a big way to assist with equipment, technology and training.

Solving the crime issue is the single most difficult task facing the Government, and the constant flow of deportees, some of them more criminally sophisticated than before they left, are making the Government's job even more difficult.

We cannot continue like this. It is not fair to the citizens and especially to the overworked and dedicated police in the force who are always being blamed for losing the battle to fight crime. But it is not their fault. Leadership begins at the top and it is time to wake up and realise that we cannot fight the crime war on our own.

I am, etc.,

BRUCE BICKNELL,

Director,

Tank-Weld Metals,

27 Seaward Drive,

P.O. Box 213,

Kingston 11.

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