The politicians have failed miserably over the years to put in place policies that would achieve changes in the crime and violence that has embedded itself in and is eating away at the society like a cancerous tumour. The previous Minister of Security tried yet there is much more to be done.

The incumbent Minister of Security, Derrick Smith, is still on honeymoon, basking from his victory at the polls, recently. Smith was very vocal as opposition spokesman on crime and violence. However, in governing, he remains ineffective. Mr. Smith, we need to hear more from you, crime and violence is soaring under your watch. It is time for the Police Services Commission and the powers that be to look beyond the force for a new commissioner of police and to implement policies designed to weed out members with corrupt and unethical behaviour, irrespective of rank.

- Roy Cruickshank, Port Morant P.O., St. Thomas

Our labour built the British Empire in which animal life was better off than the human jungle of Jamaica in which deception, corruption, murder, crime and violence, are the best our intelligence can produce to make all of us happy.

What I would love to see in action is a community beehive newsroom in all our churches that gathers the daily reports of their communities and deal with matters with speedy concern to secure peace, to counsel, use drama, songs and festivals that can help in reshaping a pattern of civilised behaviour to guide us in a fast-changing world in which we are living, far from the promise of our rich national anthem.

This approach will help in taking this nation to God and God to the nation. This message is a challenge to our leaders to come up with better ideas to solve our pressing conditions.

- John W. Lawson, Darliston P.O. Westmoreland

There is no repentance in the grave. I observed on the radio and television where some ministers of religion are in league with hanging. Now with minds like these, how can killing stop. Many times, the innocent are caught and crucified, for example, George William Gordon, Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle - our national heroes. And, our universal Hero the master Jesus; and many others like him and our ordinary citizens. To avoid making the mistakes of the past, abolish capital punishment as other civilised countries have done and murder will eventually stop.

It is not right for taxpayers to be feeding murderers on death row for how many years and then one day have them cut down at the gallows. How do we benefit from that? Let those that are on death row be made to work for the state 24 x 7 for the rest of their lives and pay part of the proceeds to the relatives of the deceased. The benefit derived by the state and relatives cannot bring back the deceased, but God would, in the meantime, heal the wound.