The Editor, Sir:

The crime problem is engulfing the nation and has been so for almost two decades. People are cowering, families are scam-pering home before nightfall to try and avoid the marauding gunmen. The prime minister has just corrected the most blatant mistake he has made since coming to office. The appointment of Colonel MacMillan should have been the initial appointment to the national security ministry.

The crime problem is a national crisis and needs to be treated as such. The entire country needs to be mobilised around this cause. If it takes 1,000 policemen and soldiers to flood a crime-infested community like August Town for one year or more, then so be it. They should not leave until all the guns are found and the criminals apprehended and brought to justice or bring justice to them. Too often, we go in and leave as soon as the situation is quieted.

Handling the situation

The questions are going to be asked about the manpower and the necessary resources to handle these situations for a sustained period. Remember, it is a national emergency - therefore, everything else is secondary. Every able-bodied man and woman above 18 years old needs to be summoned. It has to be dealt with and we need to do it now. How can the police force be short of motor vehicles when there are countless numbers of other vehicles from other ministries gallivanting around the city? If we consider this as the most important issue facing the country, then we need to rope in those resources. This is going to take prime ministerial leadership, and that is what I want to see.

The dons walking around in the crime-infested communities, acting like Robin Hoods, should now be anticipating the quick passage in Parliament of a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO). RICO has been effectively used in the United States to shut down the Mafia. It covers extortionists, money launderers, gun traders, murderers, illegal drug sales, prostitution, etc.

Attack criminal behaviour

The effort will come to naught if we do not tackle the nastiness and downright criminal behaviour in our schools. Boot camps should be immediately set up in every parish, staffed and run by the military. The students who persistently display deviant behaviour should spend time in the boot camps until they learn the norms and standards that society expects. Minister Holness should put together his list of recalcitrant students, who should be quickly shipped off to these camps.

The prime minister should call an emergency Cabinet meeting to deal exclusively with this crime issue. The support of the Opposition will be critical. We cannot have gunmen ambushing and killing members of our security forces. We cannot continue to have 700 people being murdered within a six-month period. The killing of our citizens in broad daylight in the busiest parts of our city just cannot continue. We need to start dismantling the garrisons and we need to arm law-abiding citizens to take back the fight to our enemies. I need to see some serious efforts and I am not a patient man at this time. Prime Minister Golding, the ball is in your court. IT'S TIME FOR ACTION!

I am, etc.,

SHAWN JOHNSON

jamaicanshawn@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica