Rename the SOEs

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am a Canadian who has been spending his travel time in Jamaica over the last several years. I love the country and the people.

The term state of emergency (SOE) is totally misnamed. To persons from countries like Canada, US, Europe, etc., it creates visions of civil unrest and rioting such as what happens in the above-named regions when people there do extreme protesting.

Persons who then hear of SOEs have visions of such things in Jamaica. It is just bad PR. This act is actually designed to give the authorities extra powers.

With the SOEs, Jamaica is actually safer as the bad men go to ground and crime goes down, as statistics have shown. Hopefully, persons in government will be aware that the naming of an act may have some negative impact. My advice to the Cabinet is: change the name, call it the Power Extensions Act or some other subtle term.

GEOF HOLMAN

Alberta, Canada