THE EDITOR, Sir:

We are sending this letter to you with grave concerns for our beautiful Jamaica. We Jamaicans and residents of South Florida are fed up with the state of murder and gun violence that is now taking place in Jamaica.

Over many years a lot of changes have been made in different areas but nothing has been done to send a clear and strong message to those who choose to carry illegal guns and commit murder.

It cannot be business as usual. The penalties should be more severe; we recommend these charges. Either you reinstate hanging, or for carrying an illegal gun they should face penalties of 50 years; shooting 70 years; and murder 95 years.

The law cannot be sympathetic with this kind of criminality anymore. Our beautiful country should be able to give enjoyment to law-abiding people; and it is the Government's responsibility to ensure that this is accomplished.

Many times residents have to evacuate their communities while the police stand by watching, when they should be there to ensure that citizens enjoy their properties which they work hard to purchase, and the right to enjoy life, and not to surrender to these heartless gunmen. We have lost too many innocent friends and neighbours by the hands of these brazen gunmen.

We hope you will find the political will to give us a safe Jamaica.

We are, etc.,

Ray Bryan of Lauderhill,

Florida, along with some 30

other signatories.