The Editor, Sir:

Jamaicans can easily minimise crime in Jamaica. What we have done is complicate the issue and paralyse our thinking on coming up with solutions.

Here are a few practical suggestions:

1. Recruit Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals from other countries with extensive criminal justice experience. The Government must give them the authority and resources to execute their duties and functions.

2. Do a comprehensive projection of how much it would cost to (a) establish major forensic lab in Jamaica which could also be used by other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Tobago (b) renovate and equip all the court houses with Internet access and secure all documents from hazards (c) purchase several boats to patrol Jamaica's shores (d) replace customs officers at all ports of entry and exit with contract companies preferably from other countries (e) carry out sting police and military operations to flush out criminals, such as stealthily having an unmarked police vehicle broken down in the dead of night on a lonely highway (f) create intelligence-gathering facilities.

There are many other suggestions I could make. However, time and space do not allow me to elaborate on the above or continue the list of suggestions.

Given the budgetary constraints, the Government will have to borrow to fund the above suggestions. However, there will be a decrease in crime. Jamaicans in other countries will physically return to Jamaica to build houses, start small businesses and those who don't, will vacation there more often. In essence, decreased crime will create the atmosphere for a substantial increase in economic activities. The Jamaican Government can then repay the borrowed funds.

I am, etc.,

MARK SOUTAR

masoutar@hotmail.com

Pembroke Pines, FL

Via Go-Jamaica