THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE CONTINUED and worsening crime scourge across the length and breadth of Jamaica seems to have finally struck the chord of many. The recent murders of four prominent businessmen, L.G Brown, Dr. Benjamin, Maurice Azan and Lloyd Phang in a very short time period has also brought to the fore the perilous state of our beloved country.
Murders, carjacking, brazen daylight robberies, stabbings, drive-by shootings and many other crimes are now, horrifyingly, the norm. Jamaicans seem to go on with their own business knowing very well that no one and nowhere in Jamaica, no matter the many precautions, is safe again. Marauding criminals are wreaking havoc on our nation and the general state of affairs epitomises a failed state.
Though a united effort is needed to effectively tackle the ongoing crime dilemma, we should never allow the government to toss the responsibility of crime solely on the shoulders of the private sector, the church, the opposition, service clubs, the average citizen and the rest of civil society.
Most Jamaicans, including many commentators, are disillusioned about how to effectively tackle crime. The worsening crime dilemma is frankly, for the most part, the fault of the Government. A government is a group of political officials who formulate public policies and conduct the affairs of a country on behalf of the citizens who elected them. Lest we forget, one of government's principal functions is to secure, protect and safeguard its citizenry.
A gross lack of economic opportunities, an almost ramshackle education system, unemployment, escalating corruption, an ineffective police force, rapidly eroding values and attitudes and a paucity of formidable vision
contributes significantly to our crime dilemma. Only a complete lack of good governance can explain the wretched state of our society.
The failure of the government to effectively tackle Jamaica's grave social and economic problems for the last 16 years is a clear enough illustration of ineffectiveness and possible incompetence. We are also reaping what was sown by past governing administrations.
I, as a very young Jamaican, am of the conviction that if we are serious about tackling the crime dilemma we would have to do away with a significant proportion of our current political leaders. Jamaica is in desperate need of a renaissance. One must, with some pressing reservations, commend the PSOJ on their recent actions as it was at least a step in the right direction, but their dreams of a better Jamaica will certainly be derailed if the necessary change in political leadership is not achieved.
I am, etc.,
DELANO SEIVERIGHT
delanoseiveright@yahoo.com
