THE JULY 1997 report by the National Committee of Political Tribalism stated that "political influence has impeded the security forces in the performance of their duties". The committee, which was guided by former Political Ombuds-man James Kerr, recommended that politicians do not "pay lip service to, but must also become actively involved in the eradication of a political arena where gun slingers establish and operate tribal boundaries".

Golding's de facto expulsion of former police chief, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, is farcical - but only to those of us who care to peer under the 'golden bridge' to see the derelict columns that hold it up.

James Kerr's committee reported that "the politicians are, to a great extent, responsible for our type of party politics and the resultant factional conflicts in the country, and, therefore, have a special obligation to join in the efforts to put an end to political tribalism".

Self-sacrifice needed

Brazen greed, indifference, myopia and foolhardiness seem to cloud our leaders' minds, like cataract over a patient's eye magnified tenfold. The callousness of $60-million refur-bishing 'squalor' chat and the unreasonableness of $77,000 chair, among other things, have dis-heartened the Jamaican people. Our political and business leaders must sacrifice self-aggrandisement for the child whose hunger strangles her; for the mother whose busy right hand is not identical to the left; and for the young man whose only dream is to move from the Gully to the Gaza empire.

We know what we must do to save our country and must develop the courage to do it. I am not into the 'blame game' because we are all guilty of the greatest crime of all - the crime of indifference. This does not mean that we should not hold our leaders accountable, but that we must take action where their lack of wisdom and greed for power warp their hearts and minds.

Our Government and Opposition should know that a significant reduction in Jamaica's crime rate will begin with them putting the country's needs above their own. If this approach is not taken, I am sure that we will be welcoming a new police chief in a couple of years, if we still have a country to live in.

I am, etc.,

CRAIG DIXON

Craig.dixon11@gmail.com