THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I watched on TV, police going about their lawful business being stoned in Oxford, St. Elizabeth, and read about Superintendent Blake being hit unconscious in Homestead, St. Catherine, the killing of the three vendors at the Mandela Crossing, the tracing match between Harold Crooks and Commissioner Francis Forbes and Dr. Peter Phillips admitting that murders have gone amok since March 2003, I wonder if our leaders have any clue as to how to control the runaway crime rate in the country.
One of the most important things that our leaders, who are formulating these crime plans should know, is that they are planning for different kinds of criminals. Also they cannot be swayed by any and every interest group who have different axes to grind or political interest to attain.
There are criminals who will be influenced by Bishop Blair and the Peace Management Unit and better community policing. There is another group which can be influenced by skills training and better job opportunities, and better living conditions. There is still another group of criminals who can be influenced by better prison conditions and prison rehabilitation. And then there are those gunmen who will not be influenced by the above and must be treated differently.
Different groups focus on one or more aspects of the above, pointing to success in some areas. We could highlight the benefits of skills training and better job opportunities as evident in the Grants Pen area and other inner-city communities. We also see where better community policing has decreased criminal activities in Portland, Hanover and other parishes.
However with all of the above initiatives the ultimate success of any crime plan, is for the vast majority to show unity in supporting the plan and the police.
I am, etc.,
AINSWORTH DICK
Regal Plaza
Kingston 5
