The Editor, Sir:

Mr. Mark Kerr-Jarrett's proposal that we use a military-like project to forge discipline into our young men seems on the surface to be a workable idea, but in analysing this scheme, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that such a project has little chance of working.

First, the matter of financing has to be assessed. These youngsters would have to be properly uniformed, and get a good education from a host of lecturers, psychiatrists and other personnel.

Youngsters voluntarily enlisting in a military organisation would be prepared for a certain level of discipline. In the case of conscription, this would be more challenging. When all the above is achieved, returning these people to the environment from which they came would need a community development programme.

At the community level, the youngsters will begin to get exposure to the system at an early age. Also, there would not be the problem of family dislocation, yearning for the corner, or a drastic change of lifestyle. A community-based programme could include home, school, church, clubs, and so on. We could revive the Boys Club, the Scouts, the Cadet, YMCA, and 4-H. Under these conditions, compulsory enrolment should be much more attractive.

After-training opportunities may be explored by aggressive marketing of products, modular and package manufacturing for government, private companies and for other countries. All this will cost money but much less than the military option. Like education, we should be by now forced to wonder if we can afford not to afford the cost of reforming the youths of this country.

I am, etc.,

MAURICE HAUGHTON

P.O Box 7

Annotto Bay P.O.

St. Mary

TO OUR READERS:

The Gleaner welcomes your views on any issue. Letters must bear the writer's signature, scripted, printed or typed name, full address and telephone number where possible.

When submitting a pen-name, kindly submit full name separately; names and addresses will be withheld on request. Letters to the editor of 300 or fewer words have the best chance of being published. We routinely condense letters and seek to correct errors of fact, spelling and punctuation. We may use letters in other print and electronic products of the Gleaner Company Ltd.

Please send your letters to The Gleaner Company Ltd., P.O. Box 40, 7 North Street, Kingston; fax to 922-6223 or email letters@gleanerjm.com