THE EDITOR, Madam:
WE JAMAICANS are facing a lot of problems but building more prisons is not the answer, we should think more positively. If more schools and training centres are built and children who cannot afford it are supplied with the equipment for school there would not have been so many criminals and murderers. This would be so because children would go to school and learn a skill and if they do something wrong they should be counselled. The parents also have to be a part of putting their child/children on the right path.
How does it look to see 15-year-olds in prison? That is not right; sometimes our voices are not being heard or we are not seen by the public. Adults should listen to our points and correct us if there is anything to be corrected.
When you build more prisons it only seems as if you expect more crimes to be committed. Anything that is started can be finished so don't think that crime has to continue; an end can be put to it.
If Jamaica continues like this there will be political instability and the economy will decline further. Another point that I would like to bring forward is that age of consent should not have been dropped to age 16. Policy-makers ought to think before acting because this country is a democratic country and teenagers should be involved in these plannings and in making choices which affect us.
I would like the children to get a chance to speak. I went to a conference at the University of Technology on June 14 and it was excellent. We need more conferences like that where children get to put across their views to the public. Some elders think that our brains are not clicking.
We teenagers should get a chance to express our feelings, we have solutions to some of the problems we are now facing but we are not heard by the public.
If it had not been for the few Godly people on this island it would probably have sunk already and all of us would have died. If we believe in God this island can be one of the best. The looting and shooting can cease.
My final words are that leaders should think positively and give children a chance to speak out, we have rights, we are also human beings. We have very important and positive points that should be put across to the nation.
Please involve us in the running of the country as we all look forward to the improvements.
I am, etc.,
SHERYL FRANCIS
(Grade 10 Student)
Norman Manley
High School
Kingston 13
