THE EDITOR, Sir:

I don't believe that there is any doubt in anyone's mind that this year is off to an awful start with the number of homicides being what it is at this point in time. Inasmuch as these wanton acts of murder and mayhem may not be a true sign of any apathy or hopelessness to obtain 'justice' by way of the lawful channels, we should nonetheless be concerned and worried. We can no longer afford to adopt a 'wait-till-it-happens' mentality before we make effective, visible and unequivocal efforts to save our country.

Whatever strategies Minister Phillips and Commissioner Thomas will be implementing to fight crime, they should neither ignore nor underscore the importance of getting the support from the parents and the homes from which these criminals/wrongdoers got nurtured. It is more than timely that we put more focus on the cradles from which the innocent babies come instead of putting all the energies on the lairs/jungles, in which as adults, they eventually end up.

In a broad sense, we must try to reculture prospective parents to understand that parenting should include more than the traditional notions of providing food, shelter and clothes. There is also the need for the re-establishment of good values and ethos which underpin the development of the child's systemic socialisation skills.

Unfortunately, it is now a fact that in the absence of the fundamentals of good home training and solid family structures, the most important and also the most difficult task in raising children is helping them to find meaning in life. In the absence of effective parental, political and social leadership in the country, a significant number of our young people are losing both hope and the desire to live useful and productive lives. One could very well argue that with criminality having become so acceptable and institutionalised, it is oftentimes the law-abiding citizens who suffer the most.

Additionally, the 'fear police' crime prevention strategies which have been tried during the past few years have not persuaded wrongdoers to change either their ways or attitude towards criminality.

Furthermore, the personal attri- butes of credibility, expertise, trustworthiness and integrity of some members of the police force are neither translated nor transferred to their character and as such their enemies (and some citizens) do not believe that they possess the 'gumption' and commitment to solve crime.

What we all need from Minister Phillips and Commissioner Thomas is an effective action plan and functional strategies to modify our present dispositions towards crime fighting. They both need to convince us that their proposal is the 'right one' in order to motivate and engage all of us in the prescribed action. All law-abiding citizens are already leaning in the direction that both men would like us to. Most of us share their beliefs and expectations, so what we need is something practical to reinforce that belief in order to build a national reciprocal enthusiasm. We must galvanise our energies in order to defeat the monster of crime regardless of which of the 'two Jamaicas' we call home. Because if we don't, 'too little too late' shall be our cry.

I am, etc.,

SONIA CHRISTIE

Stewart Town P.O.

Trelawny