YOUR LETTER of the Day 'Crime, not diaspora, conference needed' (August 7, 2009), written by Mr Hero Scott, makes a solid suggestion about the need for a national conference on crime. The writer goes so far as to set out details of who should participate in each of the seven days he suggests.

I would go further. Instead of limiting participation to those entities he suggested, I think this national crime conference should also involve all sections of the society including community groups, professional associations, union members, housewives, construction workers, port workers, bakers, entertainers, trade associations every category of individual or organisation existing in the country.

final session

Such a conference should be staged at various places across the island, culminating in a final session at the National Arena. But the need for such a conference of the people is impatient of debate.

And, oh yes. Mr Scott's letter did have a weakness to be found in his dismissal of diaspora participation when he wrote: "If people who are in power for many years can't make the country better, then how people without power will do better for the people at this present moment?"

But Mr Scott himself wrote a powerful letter and you made it the Letter of the Day. Did he forget that, writing from Helsinki, he too is a member of the diaspora?

I am, etc.,

Ewart Walters

Ottawa, Canada

spectrum@storm.ca