Dear Editor,

“Once identification is verified, the person should be granted bail on his or her own recognisance,” the National Security Minister Peter Bunting said.

Why all this convolution? Just do not arrest the people. Most youth out there will not have any ID when caught with or seen smoking a spliff. Just say do not arrest people for these small quantities of ganja.

Arrests for a ganja spliff and expletives are two oppressive and backward pieces of legislation that the police use to bear malice on poor people; sometimes killing or maiming them in the process.

Some politicians are parasites and hypocrites who want to milk the ganja law until close to election for the most votes, while poor people die.

We need a revolution; we need a turnaround in the thinking of the Government and their appendages for any meaningful change to take place so that others like Mario Deane will not meet the same fate of gross brutality or death in the custody of any arm of the State, particularly the police who are supposed to serve, protect and reassure.

Where are the enlightened voices in parliament like “plain clothes Rasta” Mike Henry — according to poet Mutaburuka — or even Omar Davies, who is a student of the “stepping razor” Peter Tosh. The leaders know what to do but are they listening to the wrong advice or are just cowards.

The prime minister should just wake up and announce the change of “no more arrests”. Sister P would go down in history as the prime minister who removed a piece of the chain around black people in Jamaica. What better time to do this than now when Marcus Garvey is being celebrated.

Michael Spence

Kingston 6

micspen2@Hotmail.com