Capital punishmentThe JLP has taken a really bold step in trying to reduce the crime rate of Jamaica. But is it really going to work? What the JLP needs to do is study the crime rates of the countries that practise this type of punishment.
For example, in the United States, the states that practise capital punishment still have high crime rates. In fact, their crime rates are even higher.
Fear will be an initial reaction to the establishment of capital punishment in Jamaica, and yes,it may have the desired effect on our crime, but how long will it last? Obviously, not long enough, if American crime rates are highest in places where this is practised.
So, it's good that we are thinking of ways to reduce our crime, but I don't believe it will be effective.
- Romain Baker, toppa-tingz@hotmail.com, Brampton, Ontario,Canada, Via Go-Jamaica
A chimera?I was intrigued by the editorial of June 10 titled, 'The Chimera of Democracy.' I went to the Oxford Dictionary and noted the following meanings.
1) A fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail, killed by Bellerophon; (2) A fabulous beast with parts taken from various animals; (3) A fantastic or grotesque product of the imagination; (4) An organism containing genetically different tissues formed by the fusion of two early embryos, grafting, mutation, etc.
Surely this does not mean the current PNP, incorporating ex-JLP Dabdoub, ex-Workers' Party Trevor Munroe, ex-JLP Horne, ex-NDM Duncan, and now ex-Miss World Hanna, is a chimera? But who is the female monster with the lion's head?
- Dennis Stephens, saturn1@cwjamaica.com, Kingston 8 Via Go-Jamaica
Second thoughtsWhen Portia Simpson became the Prime Minister, I was so happy, since it looked as if Jamaica now had an opportunity to begin progressing in a positive direction.
However, the current fiasco with Lisa Hanna demonstrates the Prime Minister's blatant disregard for the opinions of the delegates of South East St. Ann. The Lisa Hanna affair demonstrates that leadership of the country is taking a backward step. In view of the situation, Ms. Hanna needs to take the humble approach of rejecting the nomination, thereby saving her favourable reputation with the Jamaican people.
- Joan Campbell, joancamp@nova.edu, Miami, FLVia Go-Jamaica
