The Editor, Sir:

There has been an outcry about Commissioner of Police Hardley Lewin's statement that policemen must be available when and where needed or leave the force. A similar outcry came when the question was raised as to whether our new governor general, Dr Patrick Allen, would be available for Saturday duties.

I share the concerns of the Adventist group for preservation of religious freedom. However, religious freedom for any group requires religious fairness among all groups.

Operational planning

In the case of the question on the GG's time, there is a simple way to get around the situation through operational planning and constitutionally approved deputies.

To weigh the commissioner's statement in context, let us assume that Adventist policemen are allowed to be off duty from 6 p.m. Fridays and all day Saturdays. Would Sunday worshipping cops not demand fair play, this so that they do not suffer (religious) discrimination? Must therefore only non-religious ones serve on those days? Somehow, I thought religion should not be considered in job design.

Again, when we are in church on Sunday or Saturday, are there not people at the JPS providing electricity so the church organ and lights work? Are there not policemen on a twenty-four-seven basis seeing to it that criminals do not?

Should we appoint only be atheistic cops to work on, Saturdays and Sundays?

Come on, you guys.

I am, etc.,

Waldemar Scott

waldemarscott@yahoo.com

Kingston 8