Distressed for Jamaica

I am mortified to hear about the escalating cases of murder, rapes, etc, that have been going on in Jamaica. I am currently living in England and would love to come home because, contrary to popular belief, life here in the UK is very difficult and can be very lonely.

I knew Sandy Supersad and I am disgusted at the ease with which crimes against hard-working individuals are committed. Many Jamaicans do not understand how unjust crimes are affecting its economy, its residents and on those who, unwillingly, have had to call other countries 'home'. I am deeply disturbed about the killing of Sandy and pretty petrified to actually visit my own home.

Shauna Barrett

shauna barrett@hotmail.com

Leeds, UK

Corruption, a way of life

I often read The Gleaner online, and I am so beside myself at seeing my beautiful country going to the dogs. It is so sad that crime has escalated the way it has, and law enforcement personnel, i.e., the police and soldiers, cannot seem to do the right thing! This is a disgrace!

Corruption has been the way of life in Jamaica for years and it will never go away unless the Government does the right thing. There is too much illiteracy, unemployment and immorality being committed. Seems to me that Jamaica is without God right now.

A lot of the crimes are committed by the same people who are supposed to protect and serve the Jamaican communities. Come on Mr Prime Minister, set an example! Listen to your people. Put away the real criminals away, and for once get rid of the corruption in Government.

- PAT

carribqueen08@yahoo.com

Wallingford, Connecticut

Faulty memory?

I heard on the evening newscasts of Wednesday, November 4, of our goodly gentleman politician, Ronnie Thwaites, saying the reason so many of our people migrated in 1962 was because they misunderstood what Independence meant, thinking it was a bad thing for Jamaican citizens.

Well, many of our white, Chinese, light-skinned Jamaicans did the same at the urging of our beloved mighty Michael Manley who wanted us to walk hand in hand to the top of the mountain to the new socialist land where we could look toward a better life. He said those who didn't believe in this better life were to remember there were five flights available daily to Miami, USA.

So when two generations have passed and you tell the youths, "Dem gone wid yu riches an' lef de land dry", remember who drove them away - the greatest politician Jamaica ever produced, for whom many people at that time were willing and ready to do his every bidding.

K. Francis

grumpy@hotmail.com

Mandeville, Manchester