THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS deeply moved and felt privileged to be alive to witness the historic swearing-in of our first female Prime Minister of Jamaica. Since her elevation to the ultimate political office, the expectations of many are high, and hope is rekindled in the hearts of many Jamaicans, both home and abroad.
The residents of her own constituency and similar-type inner-city communities, women of varying backgrounds, the youths, the poor and the downtrodden among us are all expecting Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and her government to find a way to create a better Jamaica one where all citizens can dream, and thus, realise their full potential.
PRIORITIES
Certainly, the priorities are many, and I was quite pleased to hear the new Prime Minister espousing the most urgent, including: a return to our traditional core values, the transformation of the education system, job creation, the eradication of corruption, the respect for the rights of all Jamaicans and the sustained reduction of crime and violence.
Since all life is sacred and the right to life is the most central of all human rights, it is reasonable to conclude that the reduction of crime and violence in Jamaica must be priority number one.
By now it should be quite clear to all of us that none of us in Jamaica is immune to the effects of crime and violence. No class is exempt, no community is beyond reach, and no family is untouched. People from all strata of society had been victims in the recent past.
UNITY
How many more Jamaicans will have to die before the entire society unites against this seemingly out-of-control crime phenomena? Many commentators, political, civic, religious and business leaders are calling for this unity and strongly espousing the necessity for such.
Will the new Prime Minister take up the challenge by becoming this irrepressible, passionate and committed leader? She certainly commands the respect, the authority and the credibility of the broader society, and thus should be well placed to bring the nation as one collective entity in the war against the forces of evil that threaten all of us.
I pray that the Portia Simpson Miller-led government and a united Jamaica move expeditiously to halt this moral slide. Continuous talk and no focused action will threaten the entire society, therefore, it is a war in which we must all enlist, a battle we must all engage and a fight we must win.
I am, etc.,
DELROY SCARLETT
dhsscarlett@yahoo.com
St. Andrew.
