Dear Editor,

I read the Sunday Observer piece on the views of former Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington on the present state of the crime fight in Jamaica; and I read most of it.

What puzzles me, though, is that based on the police statistics referenced in the very thorough Observer stories, there is a suggestion that the murder and other violent crime numbers were trending down.

I don’t think I read it wrong.

If this is, in fact, so — and I have absolutely no reason to doubt the figures — why did he step down?

And, not just that, why were his efforts and strategies not maintained, if not strengthened?

Something about that makes no sense to poor, old me.

These are the facts: Commissioner tries strategy; strategy begins to work; commissioner is changed; strategy is changed.

Is it that someone didn’t want crime fixed?

Is it that the new commissioner wanted to stamp his own PhD brand of strategy?

Why mess with a seemingly good thing?

The fight against the crime monster should not be pursued in the same way old-time Jamaican politicians rubbished good plans when they succeeded an Administration of a different colour. We are working that kind of ‘bad mind’ out of politics, don’t tell me it’s in the police force, too.

Why mess with a good thing?

I can’t help but imagine where the crime numbers would be had we pursued, or even intensified Ellington’s strategies.

Afronose

bigzy_2000@yahoo.com