Trade gang leaders for gun

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AS WE GO after the gangs, I would like to suggest a strategy that should help to get the guns in. We need to arrest the most influential leaders of all gangs, even if there isn't a charge against them at present. The release of these members would then be traded against the surrender of guns - a number to be tied to the size of each gang - but certainly, I believe, more than twice the membership of each gang. They would also need to hand over ammunition - say, at least ten times the number of weapons to be collected. I would also expect that we move decisively to enact legislation that makes gang membership illegal.

Let's seize the moment and obliterate those unproductive activities that are used as a front for extortion, drug peddling or are themselves acts of extortion. I speak of actors such as the so-called taxi loaders at most of our taxi stands and bus parks.

Harsh penalties for police

I strongly believe, too, that as we seek to remove corruption from the police service, the penalties on police officers for committing crimes that have been made easier through the position of power and opportunity that they enjoy should be punished much more severely than a civilian committing the same crime. Those whose ties are severed from the force should be put through a process of rehabilitation before they are made to re-enter society as a civilian.

As we seriously consider national housecleaning, let all persons who are vying for political office be put through polygraph tests with questions about candidates' possible involvement in gang, illegal gun and/or illegal drug activities. This, I believe, would greatly help voters to make more informed decisions at election time.

Then, we would be on our way again to be building that new Jamaica that I sang about so lustily and believingly when I was a child.

Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.

I am, etc.,

Leroy Brown

brownleroybrown@yahoo.com