Airport-security lapse

It's sad to know that decent people using our airports are subject to such thorough and sometimes degrading searches, and a man allegedly of 'unsound mind' could just waltz through all the main areas resulting in the hijack of a flight.

This has disgraced us before the whole world, and especially with an official of the country to which the flight belongs in our house at the time.

I'm waiting to hear how this pans out.

- Karen Gibson ayahmideh 1@yahoo.com, Kingston 17

Tourism will suffer

Jamaica's tourism will undoubtedly be affected by the reports of the hijacking at Montego Bay airport. How was the hijacker able to get on board with a gun? Don't they have metal detectors? Even with a pass, he should have been checked. With so many criminals around, no individual should go unoticed.

As soon as it happened, it was all over the news like wildfire. Thank God, no one was hurt. It is such a shame that such a beautiful country with so many beautiful and talented people is being overrun by criminals. If they continue down the same path, the country will end up worse than Animal Farm.

Anyone can obtain a fake ID and uniform, so the right thing to do is "put your trust in no man". We cannot feed the population because we want to eat what is not grown there, and now the foreigners who want to come and are willing to spend some time and cash will be more hesitant because of lax security and criminal behaviour of a few who are making matters worse for all of us.

- J. McDonald, Jmcdo62658@optonline.net Bronx, New York

Implications of tax increase

With reports of an impending gas tax and GCT increase in addition to higher charges for water and electricity services, I am left wondering whether the Government has fully thought out the ramifications of these increases.

The people of Jamaica, I am sure, fully understand the economic times that are facing the nation, but political suicide is not the option. These price increases would not go down well with the electorate. Jamaicans have been 'biting the bullet' and 'tightening their belt' for decades.

I am glad I am not in the Government's shoes, because there are no easy roads to travel here, but another road would be a better bet.

- Brian Lofters blofters@yahoo.comKingston 8