THE EDITOR, Sir:
Our daily papers and the radio and television scream of the constant death and destruction of our people. One police report said there were 23 murders committed in a particular week. This is not comforting news. We continue to hear horrendous stories of our young men being killed in gang-related violence, our children stabbing each other to death, senior citizens being killed or crippled by stray bullets, teens committing suicide. Add to this, the daily carnage on our roads.
All over this country families are grieving for the loss of loved ones, whether it is by violence, accidents, or natural causes. A foul odour is emanating across the country. The stench of death and an uncertain future for our people is spreading rapidly. In a few months this country will be seeing another spate of graduations taking place across the parishes. Thousands of our youths will be leaving school and will be facing an uncertain future.
What is going to happen to those who will not be able to go on to college or other tertiary institutions? How many of our young men will feel it is more profitable or fulfilling to become a "shotta" or an extortionist? What about our young women? How many of them will end up being baby mothers at the age of 17 or 18, because they have to find a man to maintain them?
We'd better find answers and solutions soon. There has to be training facilities for school-leavers, job creation has to be in the forefront of our minds now. We have to find a way to save our young men and women, because without them being alive and productive this country will be going nowhere.
Our young intellects are
packing up and leaving this country in droves because of the fear of crime and the lack of employment. We have to find a way to keep them here. We need their knowledge and skills to improve and to maintain the country. Jamaica is becoming a bloody hell for us all, especially the young.
It is time for us to put
hands and hearts together and put an end to all this. I am ready, are you? I close with a line from a popular song, "Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place if you can".
I am etc.,
JACQUELINE WRIGHT
mswhirl2000@yahoo.com
Mandeville, Manchester
