The Editor, Sir:

We are living in country where it appears that two of our most fundamental rights have been taken away from us: the right to speak and the right to live. The lives of ordinary Jamaicans are being snuffed out in the most brutal and barbaric fashion, on a daily basis, yet politicians are sitting in the House of Representatives pontificating over a crime bill that will not bring about a reduction in the level of criminality or free us from the captivity of the criminals, but instead will further erode our human rights.

The irony of this is while they are disrespecting each other and quarrelling among themselves, we are left to face the deadly bullets of these cruel and vicious gunmen. It is time for a more realistic approach to be taken in dealing with the crime situation. The first thing that must be addressed is the right to life. If the Government is unable to guarantee the protection of life, then it should create an avenue for citizens to protect themselves.

Amend the Firearms Act

As such, the time has come for the Government to move with alacrity in amending the Firearms Act to facilitate ordinary Jamaicans an opportunity to bear arms, in order to protect themselves and their property against these marauding and bloodthirsty hounds operating throughout the land.

The inability of the Government to provide security is also affecting our right to speak, as we are crippled by fear but, even in our silence, we are still targets for the gunmen. Like caged animals, we are trapped by inefficient political leadership and a criminal underworld that appears quite capable of outmanoeuvring the security forces and out-thinking the intelligentsia.

Colonisation was bad but, probably, we have not yet emancipated ourselves from it, and the very freedom we fought for is once again at stake. Like the slaves, we have no right to life, no right to speak and no one cares if we live or die.

I am, etc.,

HUNMIN CAMPBELL

huinminc@yahoo.com

May Pen, Clarendon

Via Go-Jamaica