THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM a 52-year-old white English-man married to a beautiful, fine Jamaican lady living in the Arnett Garden area of West Kingston not relevant to what I wish to say here, we have applied for a United Kingdom visa for her to come to me in London, but the application was refused. My point today concerns the never-ending violence in West Kingston.

I have not seen my wife in three years because of the situation there I have spent happy times in Arnett Garden in 1996, 1998 and 1999, my wife does not allow me to come at this time because my presence in the area would put my life, her life and the lives of her family, friends and neighbours at serious risk. I am an ordinary working man, so just getting to Jamaica is not easy financially and booking a hotel room for the duration of my stay (several weeks) is simply not an option.

Even if it were, it would not be the same as being in my wife's house among family, friends and neighbours. So why can't the Jamaica Constabulary and the Jamaica Defence forces put an end to this violence in West Kingston. Surely, the answer is to mount a major operation whichwould involve sealing off an area of West Kingston and conducting a house-by-house search for firearms. This search would be carried out with sensitivity and also proper respect for people's possessions.

If Jamaica cannot control its own internal violence, perhaps American troops should be pulled out of Iraq and sent into West Kingston! All I want is to see my beautiful Jamaican wife.

I am, etc.,

JIM OBASA

jim@jimobasa.com

London

Via Go-Jamaica