THE EDITOR, Sir:
I READ with dismay and shock an article which was published Friday, November 2, 2001 in the North American issue of The Gleaner. The article was entitled, "The "dons" set the stage - Top ranging area leaders overseeing vendor removals downtown."
This is very disturbing and frightening when the Government of Jamaica cannot govern the people of Jamaica, hence allowing the trained law enforcement agencies to carry out the law and order as outlined in the Jamaica Constitution. This is a very sad day and time in the history of Jamaica that "dons" no longer have to be discreet about their relationships with Government and their functions in law enforcement agencies.
Essentially, the "dons" replaced the law enforcement in maintaining law and order. The functions of the "dons" were to ensure the Govern-ment-ordered removal of sidewalk vendors were carried out. While I believe the "dons" can be very productive to the Jamaican society in a positive light, I do believe this was very poor judgement to have the "dons" involved in law enforcement work. I also believe that this will only further deteriorate the morale of the law enforcement agencies, who for a long time felt that the two dominant political parties had been supporting the "dons."
This kind of decision by the Government of Jamaica will not help in improving Jamaica's image whether locally or internationally. Therefore, I would very stongly suggest that Government cease getting "dons" involved in law enforcement agencies. It is not written in the Constitution of Jamaica that dons should carry out the functions of law enforcement agencies. It is very imperative that this kind of poor judgement cease so that the dons will not take it to another level by taking it on themselves to exercise authority in the removal of the sidewalk vendors. I do recommend that the Government does not get the dons in the second phase of the removal of the sidewalk vendors.
I believe it is a time for a change of Government, but which of the two major political parties can really govern the people of Jamaica? This is the million-dollar question that the people of Jamaica have been trying to decide ever since they got Independence from the British in 1962. Please stop glorifying and idolising the dons. Dons only terrorise, intimidate, and put fear into the poor people. What the Government needs to do is to help them become better law-abiding citizens.
I am etc.,
CARGILL KELLY, SR.
c465@erols.com
Manassas, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
