The Editor, Sir:

The problem of crime in Jamaica has taken on a shape and form that juxtapose it very closely, if not head-on, to 'the wall of anarchy'.

Every time one listens to the news coming out of Jamaica or reads the newspapers or watches television, one is bombarded with an inundation of murder news, rampaging, innocent people being killed, taxi operators and other business interests being left to the mercy of criminals, having to pay regular extortionist fees to criminals but have to be constantly in denial when the police endeavour to investigate in an attempt to bring these culprits and lumpens to justice.

We are not in anarchy

However, my speculation of anarchy in Jamaica, contrary to the above view, may not be as true as it would appear on the numerous deliveries of criminality by the common media. The opposite may, in fact, be true. For a state to be in anarchy it has to be in a condition where there is no one in charge and that there is no way to control events as they occur by the powers-that-be. Is this the case in the Jamaican crime situation? I think not.

There are several pieces of evidence, some of which are hurling around on the Internet, that show that our political representatives may have more control and contact opportunity with gun-toting criminals than reach Jamaican eyes or that we Jamaicans care to admit. Just a few days ago, I was sent clippings on YouTube that testify to the fact that political representatives may know who these criminals are and can contact them, probably as easily as dialling a number on their cellular phone.

I am,etc.,

JOSHUA SPENCER

joshuaspencer@rogers.com

Toronto, Canada