Dear Editor,

The earthquake that has hit Haiti is of epic proportions and in fact there has been no tragedy in Jamaica’s recent history that even comes close to it.

However, even as our deepest and heartfelt sympathies go out to the good people of that country, in reaching out to assist them we must always remember that some Haitians have brought death and despair to many Jamaican families by way of the guns-for-drugs trade, so any attempt to help these people has to be very carefully monitored.

A prison holding thousands of inmates was destroyed and inmates have escaped. I am sure that they will be the first to seek help in Jamaica by feigning injuries and the like. I suggest that before our government, who has just signed a letter of intent with the IMF to assist us out of an economic catastrophe, engages in any wholesale gesture of goodwill to the Haitians, we should ask Bruce Golding to remember us Jamaicans because we also can’t take any more.

This government has shown a propensity to err and I am simply calling on them to exercise great care to make sure we help only the good Haitians.

There is no doubt in my mind that Almighty God, the Creator of this earth, is responsible for the devastation that hit that country. I remember very well that the city of Port Royal was deemed the wickedest place on earth and we all know what happened to the people and place in 1907, so I am asking all well-thinking Haitians to ask themselves the question: Why has God, having made Haiti the poorest place on earth ravaged by hurricanes, wars and disease over many years, done this to their country?

Ken Spencer

P O Box 637

Kingston 8