THE EDITOR, Sir:
EVERY CRIMINAL was once a child and the primary role in the prevention and solution to criminality still lies with the parents and the homes, not the politicians, not the pastors and not the police.
Children have never been good at listening to older people, but they have never failed to imitate them.
It is most likely that the antecedent of every accused or convicted criminal, will have one commonality, which is the ethos and ground rules established at home.
Unfortunately and in a lot of instances, the home is not the most conducive environment to rear children who are often times left with the task of training themselves.
Far too many people have been breeding for fun and without any consideration for the social and economical responsibility it takes to upkeep children. With each generation and each decade the vicious cycle continues.
MANY UNPREPARED PARENTS
When Sharon Hay-Webster (who identified a 26-year-old grandmother in her constituency) declared in Parliament that it was time to address the issue of unplanned breeding and its indirect consequences, radical though her idea of a resolution may have been, she was ridiculed in a most apathetic manner.
Too many unprepared and poor parents and their off-spring have been and are being influenced by the culture of material achievements (and bling-bling) which often times creates unrealistic needs, wrong social values, envy and ultimately criminality.
Such traits have been the basic source of violent discord and conflicts within most communities.
Added to this, there is widespread illiteracy, ignorance and liberalised indiscipline, a lethal combination to propel anyone into the unfortunate sea of rage, bitterness, anger, crime, violence and revenge.
LESS EMOTIONAL TALK
We learn most from what we see, we watch television, we look at pictures in magazines and newspapers, we digest what we see and then we imitate life.
We all live in denial with the false sense of comfort, that so long as 'me and my house' are not affected, life goes on.
I honestly believe that accurate statistics on the scourge of crime (rapes, murders, kidnappings, extortions) are both
misleading and hard to obtain especially where social and political taboos in addition to threats and intimidation keep many victims silent.
We only display shock, outrage and emotionalism when the nation is awakened by vicious crimes because of our own direct and indirect guilt. It is time for less emotional talk and more practical action.
I am, etc.,
SONIA CHRISTIE
Stewart Town P.O.
Stewart Town
Trelawny
