The Editor, Sir:

The argument of Patrick Gallimore about poverty and crime is not truly accurate. There are countries with similar population to Jamaica which are much poorer, yet their murder rate is far less.

Certainly, Jamaica did not get started on the right foot. One must remember that after slavery was abolished about 1834/35, no real effort was made to help these landless people to find some means of support. The planters got something and the ex-slaves were left to fend for themselves.

There was unrest in 1865 that resulted in the hanging of some 400-plus people in Morant Bay.

Jamaica was fortunate for many of its people to travel and now send back precious money. Truly, there are people who cannot benefit from all this. Some way must be found for the many 'have-nots' to survive. Crime cannot be the answer. We commend the churches as they are about to talk to our hard-pressed citizens.

We truly support any effort to reduce crime, but as we have seen, even if we have the best cop from England he may not be able to tame Jamaica's murder rate. We could do well with some meaningful youth camps, especially for boys, with a little Christian training.

I am, etc.,

TYRONE OSBORNE

kutuki23@gmail.

0rlando, FL

Via Go-Jamaica