THE EDITOR, Sir:The tragic shooting death of Dr. Ken Nanton, a young staff member of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University Hospital of the West Indies, has caused alarm, disquiet and widespread sorrow in the medical community. The occurrence of this dastardly murder, in a formerly quiet residential suburb, speaks to a regrettable decline in aspects of the quality of life which have been noted in our beautiful land.
The Prime Minister's call for a values and attitudes campaign has been falling on deaf ears in certain quarters. But it clearly requires the mandatory support of all responsible citizens committed to Jamaica, if democracy is to survive and if orderly sustained development is to continue.
The irony of this tragic situation is that in recent weeks the Medical Association of Jamaica held a major press conference to emphasise the adverse impact of violence on health care delivery. The dislocation of hospital services, the inordinate cost to the country, and the emotional and physical strain on the medical team were some of the highlights of that conference.
Now, violence could not have come closer to home. It has struck one of our number who works in the frontline of service to the criminal elements, the perpetrators of violence in our country.
The executive of the Medical Association of Jamaica and indeed, the entire medical profession share the anguish and the unspeakable grief of Dr. Nanton's young widow, his family and friends, and his extended family in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Our deepest condolences are extended to his family. We have every confidence that the long arm of the law will prevail.
I am, etc.,
JOHN A.S. HALL
(Dr. THE HON.)
President, MAJ
