THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS CITIZEN believes that there is a direct correlation between economics and crime. It is my opinion that Jamaica is suffering from intellectual dishonesty and a distortion of rational thinking which could promote a more anti-social and unethical culture.
Don't think for a minute that I am making frivolous excuses for the inner-city youth who are mostly affected by the failed economic policy. But when you have corruption being pervasive in a society, then one has to examine the 'factory' manufacturing the moral decay among the youths in the society. I don't believe, for example, that an average seven out of every 10 inner-city youth want to engage in criminal activity. One has to look at the driving force behind their first choice to commit illegal activities.
Take for example the incident on Half-Way Tree Road two weeks ago, involving three gunmen who tried to rob a service station. A gunbattle ensued with the three men and a policeman who was on spot. One of the gunmen who was shot dead turned out to be a 17-year-old youth. What would cause a 17-year-old young man to commit crime? On the Breakfast Club on October 23, the hosts interviewed two inner-city young men who said that the lack of opportunities and not being able to hold a meaningful, well-paying job to combat inflation, led them to a life of crime.
It is therefore obvious that one of the driving forces for sure is the lack of opportunities for the youth and the 'masses' in general to obtain jobs, which is in fact inhibiting the development in the country.
It is without a doubt that the failure of effective government policies has contributed to the lack of hope in the inner city.
I am, etc.,
THEOPHILUS JACKSON
tajjacko@yahoo.co.uk
Student of UCC
Via Go-Jamaica
