The Editor, Sir:

This is mainly in response to your editorial of December 1, 2006 under the heading "A failure of Leadership" in which you highlighted three areas of leadership failure in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

1. Sexual activity among school children: Your solution is "adequate sex education". Adequate sex education by itself is not enough. Children need to be taught the concept of boundaries by both their parents and societal institutions. They are to be taught that sex at this age is wrong and unacceptable. Such education must take a wholistic view of sexuality based on the preciousness of one's body and also based on the development of solid character traits.

2. Commercial sex: Your solution is to regulate the sex trade. Here is an alternative - prosecute those who seek the services of prostitutes! Amend the law if we must! The successful prosecution of some middle class men would send a message!

3. Stigma against homosexuality: If, as you admit, "men who have sex with men are particularly at risk of HIV infection" (maybe because of the make-up of the anal tissues) then why not keep the lid on and discourage this type of behaviour? Is this "orientation" uncontrollable?

I note from an article published in the Gleaner's AIDS Special (p. E4) that the PIOJ will now be used to spearhead certain legislative changes. Is it that the respected PIOJ will now be used to accomplish what the Ministry of Health has so far been unable to impose on us? What we need is a programme which we can all trust, policies which resonate with the majority of the population.

Here's an idea - if as Bill Johnson says 92 per cent of us consider ourselves religious then why not strengthen those beliefs which are able to assist in the struggle? This may be what Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados meant when he said that "the church, government and civil society (have) to find a moral and ethical way to deal with these public health issues." Grenada, I notice, is also taking a similar stance. (The Gleaner, November 28, 2006)

There is indeed a need for leadership but it has to be leadership which envisions inter alia, a society which places a premium on self-control, fidelity and commitment to marriage. Let's be careful as the HIV/AIDS programme can be like a Trojan horse which will in the end destroy all our societal defences to immorality.

I am, etc.,

S. RICHARDS

23/4 Ruthven Road, Kingston 10.