THE EDITOR, Sir:
WE ARE fast becoming an ungovernable society. Lawlessness seems to be overtaking the country.
Our approach to amicable problem-solving and desirable human relations have subsided and deviated to unacceptable norms. Decadence is our direction.
Consider the recent turbulence that has spread to even relatively peaceful semi-rural communities like Brown's Town, Golden Spring, Mandeville, McCooks Pen, etc. Blocking roads with accompanying crass behaviour appears to be the standard approach to express dissatisfaction with matters that are regarded as unacceptable to residents.
No one denies that the police and others sometimes overact in pursuit of their duties, but it seems fashionable these days for people to adopt solutions that are contrary to civil principles. Respect for one another, decency, love and brotherhood have almost disappeared, and are being replaced by indiscipline bordering on savagery, resulting in this country being classified as the murder capital of the world.
Retrieval of the country should be our number one priority for the year 2006, be it government or civil society.
APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR MORAL REHABILITATION
For the government, it is now relevant since they are in the process of budget preparation. It is an opportune time to appropriate portions of the budget to deal with the matter of moral rehabilitation by deducting an amount from each budgetary item to contribute to a 'Human Rehabilitation Fund/Programme' in order to attack the monster.
The private sector should also be persuaded to contribute similar amounts to the fund as a joint venture approach. This Rehabilitation Fund/Programme would be used to establish appropriate socio-economic programmes aimed at re-orienting the minds of our citizens to acceptable standards of human behaviour, i.e. values and attitudes.
A reputable team of sociologists, economists, theologians, etc. needs to be engaged to identify the real causes of the decadence and design appropriate and dynamic programmes to effectively address the matter, i.e. eliminate the causes and provide solutions.
All of civil society, be they the Church, service clubs, professional organisations, social organisations, private sector groups and indeed individuals should be endeared to actively participate in the programme by making contributions, be it cash, voluntary service or in kind service, to this 'Reform Jamaica' project, as all Jamaicans are affected by the moral decay.
A 'Reform Jamaica Corporation' should be established with a managing director and necessary personnel to work closely within or as an arm of the Social Development Commission, etc., to coordinate and implement solutions to achieve the desirable objective of a 'reformed Jamaica'.
This matter needs to be accorded highest priority.
I am, etc.,
ALFONSO F. JACQUES J.P.
Padmore P. O.
St. Andrew
