The Editor, Sir:

Stephen Fray, a man who is clearly mentally ill, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for an ill-conceived attempt to hijack an airliner at Sangster International in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

How many years in jail are the security people whose reported lax attitude let him into their "secure" area going to serve?

The man is mentally ill. The sentence sends no strong message other than the Jamaican justice is harsh on those who are easy to catch. And at no cost to the state because he was, after all, "captured" by a rather small flight attendant.

drug dealers

But I see no 20-year sentences for the 'big man' drug dealers who are fouling the name Jamaica internationally and the sycophantic mercenary murderers who they employ in Jamaica and in Jamaica's diaspora to slay more than 1,000 Jamaican at home already this year, in addition to many, many abroad.

I live in Canada and I know a huge number of Jamaicans also domiciled here and Canadians who have been, or want to go, to Jamaica, who are not even slightly disturbed by Fray's 'hijack'.

unnecessary poverty

However, I am, as are many that I know, deeply worried and depressed by Jamaica's unnecessary poverty, violent crime, and the obscenely high prices in general, as well as the even more obscene prices applicable to the tourist areas and industry.

These far more important issues have not prevented me, or so many others from struggling economically and visiting and assisting who we can, when we can. I daresay Fray's departure from reality will not put a single person off visiting.

I canvassed my neighbours, four of them Canadians, before writing this and none had heard about Fray's 'lowjack,' and two now say they are going to do a winter week in Jamaica - "if we can find a bargain". Best of luck with that.

This young man deserves no more than psychiatric care and medication.

It sounds as if the Jamaican justice system would have put him in Guantanamo Bay as a 'terrorist' if it were possible.

I am, etc.,

PHILIP MASCOLL

pmascoll@sympatico.ca

Toronto, Canada