The Editor, Sir:

It would, of course, be no surprise that the thrust of your editorial of April 3 has struck a responsive chord with me.

During the last administration, I dared a task force, established by the Jamaica Labour Party and headed by Colonel Trevor MacMillan, to provide evidence to sustain a claim, in their report, that there was a widely held view that there is institutionalised corruption in the judiciary here in Jamaica.

To be frank, I was surprised and greatly disappointed that my urgings did not receive the support of groupings in the society who were forever eager to vocalise their disapproval of so many initiatives and expressions of the People's National Party (PNP) government.

It is pleasing to note that your editorial supports the observation in the groundbreaking report of the Jamaican Justice System Reform Task Force, established by the then government and chaired by Professor Barry Chevannes. That report observed that: "The greatest strength of the Jamaican justice system is the widespread confidence and belief in the integrity and commitment of the judiciary.

"This general perception is validated by the fact that there has only been one charge of judicial corruption in a generation, and that charge led to a successful conviction."

A member of the MacMillan Task Force sought to justify their 'finding' by calling on a statement that had allegedly been made by former minister K.D. Knight, which was quickly shot down by the minister and nothing has been heard from them since.

Now, Amnesty International has adopted their 'finding' in its own report, realising my worst fears, that such an unworthy observation would certainly attract global attention.

It is going to be extremely difficult, if not downright impossible, to reverse or erase that sorry comment of the MacMillan Task Force and now 'certified' by an international body.

I am, etc.

A.J. NICHOLSON, QC

Kingston