Drug war fuels crime
Peter Phillips made the common mistake of confusing drug-related crime with prohibition-related crime in his December 2 column. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.
Drug prohibition finances organised crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased anti-drug war spending. It's time to end this madness. Thanks to public education efforts, legal tobacco use has declined considerably in recent years. Apparently mandatory minimum prison sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices.
- Robert Sharpe, Common Sense for Drug Policy, www.csdp.org, Washington, D.C.
Roadside shops in Norbrook
I note with concern the mushrooming of roadside shops and vending at the intersection of Benson Avenue and the Benson Fording. Will someone please help to stop the deterioration?
The authorities have been clamping down on roadside vending in downtown Kingston; why not Norbrook?
- Concerned Citizen, Kingston 8
Where's the miracle?
During the election campaign, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) promised us that they had the answer to crime. Audley Shaw declared: "The country is the murder capital of the world"; "The People's National Party cannot control crime" and "Tek way unoo self and make people who know how to run government tek over." Where is that solution now?
Recently, my son and a friend were robbed in Kingston. I did not expect that to happen so close to the 100 days of relief promised by the JLP.
Can Mr. Shaw, Mr. Golding or Mr. Smith, tell me when I can go to sleep at night and not worry about the safety of my child in Kingston? When will they perform this promised miracle? We need it now!
- Ramadhin Bailey, ramadhinb@yahoo.com
