THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON BEHALF of the University of Technology, Jamaica, I wish to express grave concern about the spate of violence in our country and its negative implications for us as a people. Last September, Julie Anne Maxwell, a brilliant, ambitious, pioneering student from UTech was brutally murdered on her way home from classes. And now more recently, Leon Duncan, one of our final year engineering students was robbed and murdered at his home.
These two students are among the hundreds of Jamaicans whose lives have been senselessly snuffed out in less than a year. While we all agree that each life is invaluable and sacred we cannot help noting the boundless potential lost with the deaths of so many young, talented and sometimes highly skilled individuals - A most unfortunate means of additional brain drain in Jamaica.
As an educational institution our philosophy is grounded in the belief that a truly educated individual is less likely to be ill-adjusted in society. Therefore we are committed to the total education of the individual as a social being in terms of personal well-being, social and intellectual competence. In the long term, we hope that our society will be dominated with this new mindset and competence. We hope that others will share our view and join us on this journey.
Today, I would like to appeal to us all to co-operate with the law enforcement officers and help bring the criminals to justice. In our professional and social interactions, let us promote and seek to maintain peace.
We are aware that the criminals may never read this letter. Sad to say, many may not even be capable of reading it.
But we think it is important to encourage all well-thinking citizens to keep the hope alive and not be wary in working to preserve a civilised society where the sanctity of life is cherished and decency, love and respect are once more given their true meanings and not be confused with weakness.
I am, etc.,
RAE DAVIS
President
University of Technology
