Equal rights for all

As we celebrate International Human Rights Day I am calling on the Government of Jamaica to protect the rights of every Jamaican regardless of colour, race, religion, gender or sexuality. For too long our society has been divided and Jamaicans are put into categories. This must stop because we should be equal in the eyes of our laws.

The government needs to ensure that the poor of our land are protected and, more so, measures should be put in place to prevent them from being ill-treated by the more affluent of our society. The government needs ensure that persons of all sexuality are protected; homosexuals in Jamaica are constantly living in fear of losing their lives. The police force seemingly do not protect gays from being abused, and gays are afraid of seeking protection from the security forces because of the fear of being exposed.

- Wayne Simmonds, waynes90@yahoo.co.uk, Toronto, Canada, Via Go-Jamaica

Searching for the Menzies family

I am currently researching and compiling historic data on my late father's family - Menzies - and was hoping through your paper someone maybe able to add to my study. My great great grandfather, Edward Menzies, and his sister Maria were born in Jamaica, 1818-1820. I have a photo of their parents at Paradise House. Another sister of Edward, Emily, married a member of the Brown family from Kingston.

- Joanna Lee, Oigoth@Xtra.co.nz.,95 Taupo View Rd., Taupo, New Zealand.

Fight the terror

Enough is enough. How can it be that a community has to flee because of men without brains. The prime minister and the heads of the security forces should be ashamed. Our head of government must begin talking tough and drive fear into these criminals. These guys must not be allowed to be in meetings by calling themselves area leaders.

They are enemies of the state, and should be tracked down and destroyed. I like the tough-talking superintendent who who refuses to meet with those criminals. Every parish needs a tough cop and I am willing to invest in such in order to make Jamaica safe.

Mr Prime Minister, give our brave men and women the tools to fight the terror. Jamaica is too blessed to be stressed.

- Robin Mcfayden, scape2@cwjamaica.com, Negril PO Box 68, Westmoreland.