A nation of thieves?

Many years ago, Morris Cargill, that erudite Jamaican and Gleaner columnist, wrote an article titled 'A nation of petty thieves'. He posited that because of a lack of opportunity many Jamaicans resorted to praedial larceny and low-level thievery to survive.

Well, Cargill would be shocked to know that we have graduated. We are now a fully corrupt nation, no longer pestered by petty gangs with knives and machetes, but encircled by organised criminals with high-powered weapons and friends in lofty places. Often these criminals learn their trade in the world crime centres of North America and England.

Some of the recent lottery scams and ponzi schemes are clear evidence of this. Yes, much to our regret and despite Cargill's warnings, we have achieved world-class status as a nation of sophisticated thuggery, murder and criminality.

- R Oscar Lofters

lofters1@aol.com

Kingston 8

Make more use of solar energy

Why not solar-powered AC units? I am no scientist, so I do not know how this would work. However, the idea is not far-fetched. Much of the power of the International Space Station comes from solar energy.

Financial support for research into this area could come from financial houses with deep pockets as well as from those companies that thrive in Jamaica.

The technology exists and is in wide use in the Unite States where flashing yellow signals, powered by solar energy warn of road hazards, actual vehicle speed and road construction work.

In Jamaica, with many blind corners and dangerous precipices these lights could be used to warn motorists.

More important, solar-powered flashing signals could be used at pedestrian crossings and school zones. This could help to reduce the carnage on the roads as well as encourage good driving habits.

Accept the challenge!

- Louis Alexander Hemans

lahemans@aol.com

Hyattsville, Maryland

Intensify Buy Jamaica campaign

The Government and the private sector need to ramp up their effort on the Buy Jamaica campaign. The campaign must be more direct, telling people what not to eat or what they should have less of and which Jamaican grown foods are a good replacement.

For example, we have nutritious sweet potato selling for $30 per pound and a pound of rice at $50. Flour is another food we could eat less of and save some money. In Europe potato forms a big part of the diet of both rich and poor. We need to plant more potato, preferably sweet, but any replacement for the flour and rice which we import, would be a big winner for Jamaica.

- Joan Blanc

blancowatto@yahoo.i.e