RIDDLE MI dis, riddle mi dat: When is a crime not a real crime? Answer: When it is not in the foreign press.

We Jamaicans are real hypocrites when it comes to crime: after the attempted hijacking in Montego Bay, many Jamaicans have gone on a mass campaign of apology. Everyone in letters to the press and on messaging boards have expressed how ashamed and embarrassed they were that a thing like this could happen in little Jamaica. Our media and Government went on an information blitz trying to describe the hijacker as a simpleton, possibly of unsound mind, and from a prominent Montego Bay family, as they expressed their apology to the world.

Various hijacking

I have nothing to apologise for or to be embarrassed about. As a matter of fact, I have researched stories regarding various hijackings all over the world and I have never read about such a response from any Government, people or their media. I must agree that, as far as hijackers are concerned, this individual cannot be compared to some of the others I have read about. It could have been worse and may have sent a message to the other crazies around the world that our airport is not secure and, therefore, vulnerable.

In Jamaica, we have had some of the worst crimes. I have read about entire families being wiped out or burnt alive as gunmen forced them back into burning houses; gang warfare, turf war, shooting and killing on a nightly basis involving men, women and children, but I have never seen such worldwide expression of embarrassment from our people, media and Government before.

This speaks volumes to those of us who take all crimes seriously, that so long as criminal activities are confined to the poor, the ghettos and is not shown on CNN and other foreign media then it's 'One love, one heart, let's get together and feel alright'. Let's continue to stick our heads in the sand, while exposing our rear end to the mad dogs among us.

I am, etc.,

ANDRE A. STEWART

inmyownwords@earthlink.net

Long Mountain

Kingston 6