The report about Jamaica aired in the UK on ITV is no surprise to me. We all know that we have a heavy crime rate and this is not something that we are proud of; we also know that there is poverty among us and this we are also, not proud of. This, nevertheless, does not make us unique, and as the Bible says, pick the beam from your eye so you can see clearly to pick it from your brother's eye; this I am now saying to Sir Trevor McDonald.

These are facts that they need to address in the 'Queendom': The UK has the highest crime rate in Europe; London is the drug capital of the world, one can get any form of drug on the streets of London 24/7; there are more unsolved crimes in London than any other part of the EU; the UK has the most underage pregnancy rate in the EU.

Freedom

Poverty is not a fact of life, it is a label that is used to control others. Everyone of us has a choice as to how and where we choose to live, the only thing we do not have is the freedom to do so, and this freedom is what a programme like this is taking from us. We as a nation can, and must, override this by uniting ourselves and working together.

I will not let programmes like this have me hanging my head in shame. I am a product of Jamaica and Jamaica is a part of the world. Therefore, I am a product of the world, thank God.

I am, etc.,

Winston Mathison

wemathison@yahoo.co.uk

New York