Dear Editor,

Peter Bunting is the MP for my home town. I have long respected his work ethic and dedication to his country. As such, I hope I can offer some suggestions to him for his current portfolio as minister of national security. I urge him to ‘Think Big and Go Long’.

1. Urgently activate the National Security Council: Both parties can continue to be at loggerheads with each other in every other area of national importance including the economy, healthcare, education, etc. However, on the matter of national security, I suggest that a genuine team from both parties join forces to tackle the increase in crime. We saw a rare example of this recently in the US where the Joint Economic Committee was finally able to work on issues relating to the budget. This after going over the so-called fiscal cliff and heading towards another major deadline. Jamaica’s security issues are nearing our own ‘cliff’ and it is time to act now.

2. Public-private partnerships: The private sector has long worked with various Administrations to accomplish national security objectives. I suggest some radical approaches to these types of partnerships here in Jamaica. For example, the JDF outposts can help stem praedial larceny.

3. Involve the Diaspora: We saw recently where the Diaspora came together to support Tessanne in her bid to win The Voice. I remember, in 1985, a super group of musicians and artistes came together to produce a song, the proceeds of which were used to support nutritional programmes in Africa. A similar venture can be coordinated and all the proceeds used to support community business development and parish economic development activities, overseen by a group similar to the Economic Programme Oversight Committee.

4. Get surveillance technology: We need to invest heavily in town/community surveillance systems. Here we need to think big, like satellite systems, sonar, and radar networks, even looking at mini-submarines to patrol our borders.

5. Activate parish/community/church mediation centres and hotlines.

6. Implement the new anti-gang legislation or at least aspects on which there is consensus.

7. Divine intervention

Wayne Williams

Manchester

wils25@hotmail.com