The Editor, Sir:

I wish to make a very simple observation in relation to a piece contributed to The Sunday Gleaner of December 2 by former Minister of National Security and Justice, Dr. Peter Phillips.

First, while I agree that the drug trade, gangs, social deprivation of our youths in the inner city are indeed very real contributing factors to the increase in crime in Jamaica, and across the region as was pointed out by Dr, Phillips, I wish to point to what many may consider to be an overly simplistic reason for the worrying crime levels we have been experiencing.

Dr. Phillips pointed to the need for developing existing social intervention programmes in the inner city, and I put it to Dr. Phillips and many others who hold this view, that this will NOT bring about a change in the trend in crime and violence. Change will come only if the individuals perpetrating these crimes wake up one day and realise that what they are doing is wrong, and choose to take a far less destructive path in life.

Humanistic 'plan'

Overly simplistic? Perhaps, but I maintain that all of this goes right back to the issue of people being able to come to terms with the difference between right and wrong. So no amount of social programmes, increased police presence on our streets, cooperation among regional governments, increased funding for tackling crime, improvements to the judicial system - none of these things can guarantee a curb in crime in this country or any other.

If we can somehow identify a humanistic 'plan'' of how to get to the 'heart' of cold and brutal individuals, then I would say we are one step closer in achieving a more realistic, 'long-lasting', sustainable direction in tackling this plague that's threatening to cripple the soul of this country.

I am, etc.,

NADINE FRANCIS

commhertours@yahoo.com

Kingston