The Editor, Sir:

It is the evening of July 18, 2007. I have just watched the news and there are problems surfacing in various areas of Jamaica, to do, of course, with the upcoming election. Moronic people are again shooting and killing each other over 'their parties'.

I don't see this happening in educated societies in other parts of the world. This level of illiteracy can only be blamed on a corrupt system of government which has brainwashed the minds of poorly schooled individuals to ensure that they are kept in bondage. Which brings me to the school system. This needs a total overhaul. Here again, it seems that either the Government cannot administer, or prefers to keep the population illiterate and, therefore, easily manipulated to do their bidding, especially at election time.

Ever since universal adult suffrage, illiterate people have been allowed to vote, marking their X, thus giving them the right to choose a leader. However, in light of the fact that some people in some areas do not allow others the freedom of choice, I am suggesting to those in authority that the right to vote be taken away from them until they are willing to coexist in peace.

I would equate this to the privilege of having a driver's licence. If I use my car to create havoc, mow people down, drive on the wrong side of the road, overtake when there is oncoming traffic, etc., then I deserve to have my licence revoked. In the same way, if communities cannot behave in an orderly and decent fashion and obey the laws of the land, then their right to vote should be revoked and that community should not be allowed to take part in an election.

The Political Ombudsman and the Peace Management Initiative seem to have hit a brick wall as they have not come up with a solution for lasting peace in certain areas. If, however, the people realise that there are no political spoils either before, during or after an election, and that their rights have been revoked, then perhaps, just perhaps, they may begin to see things in a diffferent light and change their behaviour and way of thinking.

I personally do not think that the recent bill passed in Parliament will be effective as open voting will no doubt continue, unless there are persons present at every polling station capable of enforcing it. The laws of Jamaica often have no teeth.

I am, etc.,

FAY BANGERTER

jewelhomes@mail.infochan.com