The Editor, Sir:

It seems as if once again battle lines have been drawn between the government and human rights groups in the most recent debate about whether or not we need to give up some of our civil liberties as a means of tackling the ever-growing scourge of crime.

I fully accept the argument forwarded by the human rights groups but currently the civil liberties of the majority of Jamaicans are being trampled on by criminals, dons and their affiliates.

We need to help

Our houses are heavily burglar-barred, we have to install alarms on our cars and homes and we have to be careful about the places we visit, whether day or night.

All well-thinking Jamaicans must accept that a multi-faceted approach is needed by the government to get a handle on crime. However, while measures are being implemented to strengthen the social amenities and reform the police force, we need to simultaneously take steps that will immediately curb the upsurge in crime.

I am, etc.,

STEVE BAKER

mr.steveabaker@gmail.com

Kingston 19

Via Go-Jamaica