THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) must be commended for the initiatives that it is taking against crime and violence in an effort to help galvanise the nation into action against this scourge. There are, of course, elements of doubt concerning the sincerity and motives of the business community, but I believe that we have arrived at a time in our country's history where we had better focus on the positives of this move and see to it that it is genuine and deserving of our widest support and participation.
I believe that the PSOJ has seen the writing on the wall and the carnage in the streets and has finally awoken to the reality that our society cannot continue like this.
The first steps to be taken directly by the PSOJ and the business community are:
1. Stop paying extortion money, bribes and other forms of financial support to criminals. The PSOJ would have little credibility demanding action from the Parliament whilst still encouraging these activities. In fact, pass the list of extortionists to the Minister of National Security and demand immediate protection for all the businesses concerned.
2. Insist that no business enterprise may remain or become a member of the PSOJ, which is involved in proven corruption, bribery, drug smuggling, gun-running, fraud, customs and tax evasion, or other similar crimes.
3. Agree to exempt the police from any wage restraints so that they may get the best possible salary increase at this time.
FUND THE POLICE
4. Agree to contribute one per cent of the returns from deposits in Government paper and other securities over the next 12 months to help pay or fund the police.
5. Use all possible sources and contacts, local and foreign, to acquire the necessary technological requirements of the police force, crime labs, weaponry, tracking equipment, safety gear, night vision equipment and so on.
6. Declare that no funding whatsoever will be made to political parties or representatives until the following demands are met:
(a). Dismantling of all garrison constituencies or communities within constituencies.
(b). Dissociation of all political representatives with criminal elements.
(c). Removal of any political representative that accepts funding from drug dealers, extortionists or any other criminal source.
(d). A commitment to institute a preferred system of national funding of elections to which the business community could make contributions. This would remove the pressure on elected representatives to reward contributors to election expenses which is a catalyst for corruption and an erosion of democracy.
(e). The passing of modern legislation to assist the country to prosecute and remove criminals from society. This would include, among other provisions, the acceptance of electronic forms of evidence in court; photographs; tapes of all types, including telephone conversations; confiscation of property and assets; witness statements without having to appear in court; plea bargaining, etc.
(f). Mandatory prison sentences for police officers, judges, lawyers, jurors or other citizens convicted of conspiring to fix or 'buy out' cases in court, intimidate, threaten or murder witnesses.
(g). Remove the restrictive libel laws on the Press, thereby allowing it to print detailed information concerning names, companies, political parties, government employees, or anybody involved in crime, to assist the country in the fight against crime.
These decisions are for our country's future. We must insist that they be carried out now as we have run out of time to deliberate and for excuses to be made.
I am, etc.,
DICKIE CRAWFORD
Convenor New Beginning Movement
Steering Committee Member National Democratic Movement
P.O. Box 1823
Kingston 8
