The Editor, Sir:

Grants Pen and many other inner-city communities have been stigmatised because of the crime and violence existing within them.

As a result, where employment and opportunities are concerned, it is a 'no-no' for most of our youngsters.

The sad truth is that a large number of our young people are not being prepared for the future. They are losing faith in the promise of Jamaica, because they are turning to crime and violence as a means of survival.

I would like to use this medium to call upon all decent law-abiding citizens to help clear the obstacles to development.

Identifying own solution

The phenomenon of crime and violence begins and ends in the community. Thus, community representatives are better poised to develop strategies to deal with the problem.

Communities that identify their own solutions to problems have a greater degree of success than those communities that have solutions foisted upon them by individuals and agencies far removed from the area.

Despite what critics say, there are still decent, law-abiding citizens within these communities, and we are determined to continue the drive for sustained, integrated development through a process of total involvement in plans and projects relating to education, public awareness, economic awareness, treatment of rehabilitation as a means of preventing crime and violence.

I am, etc.,

PHILLIP WILLIAMS

wilphija@yahoo.com

Kingston 8