Dear Editor,

For the ordinary citizen in Jamaica, July will be a pivotal moment in the safety and security of this nation. The much-maligned and celebrated crime bills are up for review and we nervously await the outcome.

For many, the worst-case scenario is that for political reasons members of both parties may choose to quash the bills as an election is coming up. This may be reality as it is common knowledge that despite denials by both parties, some MPs on both sides rely on dons to garner support for them. In light of this, they will undoubtedly want to please their constituents in certain areas while not thinking of the wider picture. While it is a conflict of interest in some cases for certain MPs who have garrisons at their disposal to vote on the crime bills, what worries many of us is the influence they wield over their fellow House members.

Since the incursion into West Kingston and the crackdown in other areas, there has been a welcome lull in crime. However, just like removing a levee to stop the flooding, the removal of these bills, we fear, could bring back the crime flood. While human rights groups are well within their rights to voice concerns, they too have to take note that the average Jamaican does not have armed security details or guns at home. We who are the lifeblood of this nation have to rely on the generosity of those elected officials whose conscience moves them to think of the wider public. While the detractors and educated may be ready to pounce and reject the arguments put forward in this humble letter, the reality is that people are getting nervous.

We cannot return to the days when the security forces are shackled by politics or “alleged human rights abuses” of known and repeat perpetrators who have friends in high places. Jamaicans must be given more than false hope that members of both Houses really do see security as being important. After all, didn’t they all swear allegiance to do the right thing and protect law-abiding citizens?

Donna Scott

Florida, USA

honeywelljm@yahoo.com