THE EDITOR, Sir:
EVERYDAY THE story is the same. Our children are being murdered as they walk home from church or while they lie in their beds. This is the most frightening aspect of the crime that has beset our nation. We have descended to an all time low - a point from which we cannot go further. Article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which entered into force on September 2, 1990, says that: (1) "States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life. (2) States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child."
We are not doing enough within our power to ensure the safety of our children. Surely, more can be done. While I am aware that in some regard no legislation can ever afford protection to prevent the gruesome murders in St. Thomas or the man who killed Jordano Flemings, the community must come together in a concerted effort to start protecting our children. Our leaders must enact legislation that will discourage such atrocities to whatever extent possible. But at a more fundamental level, it shows the urgency with which we have to tackle the cancer of crime before it completely engulfs us. I hold out hope that we are not too late.
The lawlessness which has taken over our nation runs deep. No one cares or values life and those within our society for whom greatest care should be employed are suffering the consequence of our ineptitude. Every level of the community has failed our children, from Jamaica House to your house.
NEW POLICIES NEEDED URGENTLY
The cries of our children will continue to haunt us if we do not urgently implement policies to rescue them from the criminal elements that take away their innocent and young lives. When a 12-year-old stabs and kills a 17-year-old, it becomes clear that something is deeply wrong with our society. When the police statistics show that many of the crimes being committed in our society are being perpetuated by those who have only recently escaped diapers, we must stop to ponder where we have gone wrong. When we pass our children at the stoplights begging and washing cars, and we wind up our windows and turn up our noses, we too must bear responsibility for ignoring the cries of our children.
We have failed. P.J. in tabulating his legacy should put this in the failed column. Portia Simpson Miller needs to be acutely aware of the urgency of the situation and Bruce Golding must join her in a partnership to save our children.
We need to hear the cries of our children ... nay, we should let them cry no more.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD MALCOLM
bruce_26@hotmail.com
Univeristy of the West Indies,
Faculty of Law
Cave Hill, Barbados
Via Go-Jamaica
