Yesterday's STAR story about three Jamaicans held for a number of robberies in St Maarten is by no means an announcement of their guilt.

However, Jamaica may well have long been tried and found guilty, in the court of public opinion, on the Caribbean island. As the story ended, "the island's government has continued to express concern over the rising number of armed robberies and the number of Jamaicans involved. Not long ago, residents of the island called for stricter immigration regulations against Jamaicans. Calls that the leaders say, they are seriously considering".

All the suspects, a fourth being from St Vincent, were in St Maarten illegally.

Jamaica, unfortunately, has long had a reputation for illegal activities in various urban centres in England, Canada and the USA, as well as Caribbean islands.

What is most unfortunate is that those who carry out the illegal acts do much more than steal and harm persons in foreign countries, they do the same to the chances of Jama-icans, who are refused employ-ment opportunities because of stereotyping.

And, that is selfish indeed. Employment opportunities are limited in Jamaica and many persons have to leave their homeland. We cannot ask the criminal-minded to consider their fellow Jamaicans. Chances are, they would probably do the same here.

We can hope, though, that the appropriate punishment is given to these criminals sto discourage those who would steal options from honest people.

And, thankfully, it seems to be happening.