Complaints by the 'small man' that they are being locked out totally or have only limited access to the lucrative tourism trade are common. And, often, they have a point, as the visitors' dollars are channelled into the hands of the very few, with apparently an 'all-exclusive' stance taken towards those who are not a part of the network.

There can be no complaints about discrimination, though, by the persons who are stocking illegal drugs among the craft items they sell to tourists, getting to them by way of the sea. As was reported in The STAR on Wednesday, canoes and rafts are used to get to the buoys on the beaches of hotels, mostly in Montego Bay, and the drugs then sold to the tourists.

The police have taken action against some of these people and, we hope, will continue to do so.

The 'small man' argument cannot be used as an excuse to encroach upon the boundaries of legitimate businesses. Certainly, if there was no demand, then there would be no supply, but we are sure that not all the tourists who stay at the hotels require cocaine and marijuana. So, when a sales pitch is made it is a hit or miss situation, which often amounts to pushing drugs on the unwilling who will certainly carry news of this harassment back to their hometowns.

If tourists require an added booster for their holidays, then let them go outside of the hotel and seek it. Then, a willing buyer will be able to meet a willing seller and take his chances with the police.

And, we are happy to see that the craft vendors' association has distanced itself from these miscreants.