Will we get honest answers?

The Editor, Sir:

The country has been living in a dream of deception, disbelief and denial over the relationship between political leaders and alleged criminals.

However, developments re the extradition of an alleged criminal are awakening us to the nightmarish reality of one politically created stronghold holding the entire country at the edge of terror and chaos.

Therefore, it is full time for Jamaica to clear up the issue of the suspicious relationship between its political leaders and alleged criminals. How long can we live in denial when our safety and security are at risk?

We need answers to questions like, why did the Jamaica Labour Party intervene in the Christopher Coke extradition issue? Is the party aware that by intervening in the way they did they are painting a picture of themselves as defenders of alleged criminals? What interest, if any, does the party have in Mr Coke not being extradited? Are there issues arising from Mr Coke's court case that could implicate political leaders? What secrets, if any, does Mr Coke have for political leaders?

It is a well-known secret that there is high-powered weaponry in 'garrison' communities. (Do the police need any reminders of the danger and the disadvantage they face in attempting to patrol such areas?) Where do residents of such communities get their guns?

Can any ordinary Jamaican citizen just bring (a trailer load of high-powered) guns through the secured ports undetected and or unhindered? Would not such a person need to have 'links'?

long-standing whisperings

This present affair draws attention to long-standing whisperings: Where did political parties get the guns that they have distributed over the years? Where do the candidates get the guns that were 'handouts' to unemployed, uneducated, hot-headed supporters?

Is it true that our Jamaican poli-tical parties sanction the activities of 'area dons', gang leaders, etc, in unnamed constituencies and only seek to 'eliminate' them when the relationship backfires in their faces?

What sense does it make then, if (successive governments) spout crime-fighting strategies (knocking the desks in Parliament, etc) but then they undermine said strategies? Which of our parliamentarians are among those knocking fists, rubbing shoulders with and hugging up alleged criminals?

We need answers from our leaders; they should be the ones to tell us. Will we receive any answers? Will we get honest answers?

I am, etc.,

STILL HOPING

Golden Grove P.O.

St Thomas