Concerned about violence
published: Wednesday | November 20, 2002
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am writing due to my ongoing concern with the level of violence plaguing Jamaica. I echo the Prime Minister's concern and call for a united front to combat this scourge. I believe a united and combined effort can rescue us from the miasma we find ourselves in. We need all hands on deck.
We need those with a bully pulpit such as the churches, the business sector, the opposition and its leader, the community leaders, and last, but certainly not least, the citizens. We need these disparate groups to join with the security forces to once and for all, stamp out this blight from among us. I believe everyone is past tired of the killings. Those who live in Denham Town, in Rema, in Arnett Gardens, in Tivoli, in Spanish Town, in August Town, and in all the other towns across the island, have had it up to here with the violence.
The obvious irony is that children cannot prosper in an atmosphere of wanton, and random killings. It must stop. It has got to stop. We have no alternative but to stop it, for there is no future for anyone if this continues. Admittedly, I am outside looking in, but sometimes you have a better view when you are removed from the problem. I see Jamaica at a crossroads. We have made tremendous progress. We are on the verge of great things. The only thing that stands in our way is crime and violence.
I believe we are an attractive market for a lot of people who want to invest. We have evidence of this already with all the
foreigners who already have sunk major money into our island. Money may be a lot of thing that are bad, but it usually is an
excellent measuring rod of the prospects of a country and
people.
I urge Jamaica, let us not be thwarted, let us seek the prize. Let us clean up our house, so
others will see it and feel welcome to come into it. Let us join hands to put a stop to this epidemic of violence and killings.
