Cash for gold?

The Editor, Sir:

This is a practice that Jamaicans don't need to get involved in because this business can become dangerous, and even deadly. The Government needs to get to the root of this organisation and get rid of it.

This reminded me of the scrap-metal business, only that the cash for gold can be more dangerous and deadly. At least, when the scrap metal business started, we used to have lots of old metal lying around, which included old cars. But this cash for gold will not be the same as scrap metal lying in bushes or on the sidewalks.

Only a few Jamaicans who would have gold lying around their house in excess that they need to sell it.

This practice has to stop

So why then would the Government have people setting up shops randomly, buying gold from any Tom, Dick, or Harry? Why are these people allowed to buy gold without any proper licences, identification or documentation? This practice has to stop because it is going to increase violence, robberies and murders, just for gold. This already has started as people are being robbed of their gold chains, and we all know where this is going to end up.

We have enough problems with murders which we cannot get a grip on, so why now, when we have such an economic crisis with so many unemployed people who are hurting for some form of income are we tempting and giving them ideas to rob or kill people only for a few dollars? Just as with the scrap metals, once there was no more metal on the street, people started to destroy and rob in order to obtain the metal for sale, disregarding their fellow Jamaicans who were being hurt in the process.

It is up to the Government to do something about this business as soon as possible, before it is too late.

I am, etc.,

MARIA BUCHANAN

marialbuchanan@yahoo.com

Sebring, Florida