The Editor, Sir:

Homophobes and religious fanatics were vindicated (we told you so) and empowered following the storm in a teacup unleashed by Mr Golding's comment "that gays are not welcome in my cabinet". To Mr Golding's comment, enlightened Jamaicans (with a pinch of salt of course) merely shrugged with indifference, smiled indulgently and resumed their busy lives.

The appointment of persons to government posts is based on their competence and abilities (we hope). What does sexuality have to do with it? My guess is Mr Golding is far too intelligent and civilised to care about such triviality. But politics, as he knows, is hardly ennobling and rarely forgiving. A politician's credibility is state-owned and politicians will always slavishly and, sadly, hypocritically, dance to the music of the people.

Tragically, a people of assorted misfits (homophobes, religious fanatics and the likes), always quick to condemn society's ills but ignorant of the beam in their own eyes, are hardly the people to entrust with the democratic process.

Highly gifted people

Undoubtedly, Jamaicans are highly gifted and resourceful with immense physical and emotional energy (quick to smile but also quick to anger) but sadly lacking in discipline and mental resilience, attributes well suited for dancehall gyrations and 100-metre sprints but not with Test cricket and long-distance marathons.

High unemployment, poverty, gangs and garrisons do contribute to the country's descent into murderous anarchy and we have to address these urgently. Similar conditions, however, exist in other countries with much lower crime rate. Guns are hardly in the habit of killing people. People kill people.

The maturity of a country depends on its people. A people obsessed with killing other people for greed, turf or whatever, can hardly be regarded as mature. A person is not mature until he has both an ability and a willingness to see himself as one among others, to see the other person's point of view and to do unto those others as he would have them do to him.

Teach discipline and mutual respect as part of the school's curriculum. A disciplined child becomes a disciplined adult. Enforce zero tolerance with heavy fines for littering streets and swearing in public. Little crimes evolve into bigger crimes.

A disciplined and educated society may be a long way off but until the 'no problem' Jamaica realises it is the problem, Jamaica will always have a problem.

I am , etc.,

Dr ETHON LOWE

ethonlowe@hotmail.com