The EDITOR, Sir:

There is a shift in favour of the gunmen in the war on crime in Jamaica. A peace treaty is signed by gunmen in August Town which is overseen by the police, and the gunmen are allowed to keep their guns. What kind of message is this sending to other gunmen across the length and breadth of Jamaica? Is this a message that as long as you are peaceful and sign a peace treaty, you can keep illegal guns? In former times, no stone would be left unturned in order to find these guns.

Of course, these are not former times, so maybe this is how these matters have to be dealt with in these times. However, a truce has been achieved for five years, which may have saved some lives. This truce is as a result of the hard and dangerous work of the Peace Management Initiative and Mr Horace Levy.

I hope that within this period of time the gunmen can be convinced to hand over their illegal guns or be disarmed by the police.

Effective and efficient

The police have to become more effective and efficient. The police need to be seen as the real protectors of the citizens of Jamaica at this time and not only be there to arrest them. There should be no case where a report is made and it is not dealt with efficiently and officially. Often, persons are told that there is no vehicle to deal with the report, or that the men are out on other duties or that as soon as the men return, they will send someone. This is unacceptable.

I am, etc.,

SAMUEL TAYLOR

PO Box 65

Manchioneal

Portland