Many Jamaicans say they are impressed with the speech given by Prime Minister Bruce Golding at his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

"I was very pleased when he outlined in his speech that he plans to reduce crime and stop corruption, and I do hope there is an end to these things," a returning resident said.

She complained of being plagued by thieves ever since she returned to Jamaica five years ago.

"I just can't take it anymore and I am now on the verge of packing up and going back to the United States where I lived and worked for 35 years," she disclosed.

"Yes, crime is really getting out of hand," her elderly neighbour remarked.

The neighbour said her house was broken into twice within the last ten months and although she reported it to the police, no one has so far been held.

But the frequent murders were of concern to them as they related how they were living in fear of being attacked, robbed or killed. They said they preferred to be hungry rather to be living in constant fear that they could be killed at any moment. "These criminals have no respect for human lives and they kill young and old, even babies," one of the women said. "I am really looking forward to this new Government taking charge of crime so the people can live, sleep and walk in peace."

They even spoke of how barefaced some of the criminals were, and one of them referred to a report she heard on election day that a man was arrested and charged for voting in someone's name.

"I am really glad the police arrested him because others who attempt to do so in future elections will think twice," another woman said. She pointed out that if the criminals were allowed to do bogus voting, then they would decide which party they wanted to run the country.

Section 93 of the Representation of the People Act states that "every person who at an election applies for a ballot paper in the name of another person, whether that name be the name of a person living or dead, or of a fictitious person, or who having voted once at any election applies at the same election for a ballot paper in his own name, shall be guilty of personation within the meaning of this Act".

The Act states further that a person who is convicted in the Resident Magistrate's Court for personation can be fined between $10,000 to $40,000 or imprisoned for "not less that two years nor more than five years".