Where anarchy reigns

The Editor, Sir,

"In those days there was no king in Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25

The picture of anarchy presented by those words needs no elaboration. Those circumstances are not far removed from what prevails in Jamaica, with the notable exception that we have rulers, and they are all too often a central part of the problem. My heart bleeds for my country. When a country's leaders can be counted among those disregarding its laws, with impunity, I might add, what hope is there for the country? When those sworn to uphold the laws routinely fail to do so, anarchy is upon us.

How were these hundreds of people from Tivoli, now crowding the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to regularise their supplies, getting electricity before? Their political representatives, past and present, could hardly claim ignorance of the massive and systematic stealing of electricity, and of the inability of JPS's meter readers to enter the community. When cloistered communities can feel free to occupy houses they do not pay for, and consume services like water and electricity without paying for them, who pays?

This is common in many similar communities right across the island, and is well known to the political and security apparatus. What are they doing to discourage it? I leave you to frame your own answer. Let our leaders know, though, that they are helping to ingrain thievery into the fabric of society by their unwillingness to act against it. It is not OK to stick me with these costs, whether through higher taxes or inflated utility bills.

Strange revelations

The police declared that in 2010 they would be clamping down on motorists and cyclists who failed to use seat belts and helmets. One of the strange (and anarchic) revelations at the time was that though rear-seat passengers were also required by law to belt up, the minister had stayed those provisions. It is clear that the law is not a shackle. Where is that big push by the police? Rather surprisingly, motorists seem to comply with the seat-belt law, but stand on any street corner and you will see bareheaded motorcyclists zipping along without a care.

We cannot continue like this. Or can we? Lawlessness has morphed into 'the Jamaican way' of doing things. As a society, we have become so used to bandoolooism that there is a high level of tolerance of criminality. No clearer evidence of this exists than the 'Dudus' matter. He only became an issue because the US wanted him. We saw nothing wrong with his activities, and to this day have not charged him with anything. Think about that.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL R. NICHOLSON

kovsky54@yahoo.com