The Editor, Sir:

There is hardly anything more heartrending to contemplate than the death of an innocent infant burnt to death because of the thoughtlessness and selfishness of their adult caregivers.

The frequency with which this scenario is repeated in Jamaica clearly demonstrates that people don't learn from these tragic occurrences. One would have thought that with all the publicity given to these incidents, including the cause of the fires, that all parents with young children would make sure they do not expose them to this risk. But no! They continue to leave them unattended for all sorts of reasons with the ever-present lit candle or the kerosene oil lamp.

How many deaths will it take for these parents to realise that no matter how often they have left their children unattended in the past, the next time may be the last time they see their child(ren) alive? What are they going to miss if they don't go to the dance tonight? Why can't they go to the 'shop' in the morning?

As adults, almost every single one of us have been burned accidentally, though not necessarily seriously. Do you remember the pain? Can you imagine then the last few moments of the lives of those four-, three- and two-year-olds? Can you imagine the horror? Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine the feeling of betrayal?

Maybe the practice would end if there was a way of letting all those parents who indulge in this dastardly act experience the horrors to which they so frequently and, apparently, casually expose their innocent children.

I am, etc.,

ERROL K. MILLER

C/o Cable & Wireless Jamaica

47 Half-Way Tree Road