Member of Parliament for West Central St James Clive Mullings (right) seems to be getting an earful from councillor for the Mount Salem division, Avery Rose-Green (left) about issues affecting the community during the launch of the Citizens of Mount Salem Upliftment Group at St John's Methodist Church on Saturday. Looking on is Dainty Taylor, representative of the Social Development Commission. - Photo by Tashieka Mair

WESTERN BUREAU:

Member of Parliament for West Central St James, Clive Mullings, says that, with the current social breakdown in Jamaica, wealth in the hands of those without an understanding of self-worth is a recipe for disaster.

Mulling, who was speaking at the launch of the Citizens of Mount Salem Upliftment Group, at the St John's Methodist Church, in Montego Bay, on Saturday, said the youths of the society need to be taught to respect themselves and others as the lack of respect and love for self and others are an underlining factor in the social problems the country now faces.

Not just education

"We need to invest in our young people, not just in their education, but, how they perceive themself as individuals, how they see others and how they view their country," he said.

Mullings said much of the crime committed in St James was not fuelled by poverty, but by those who have benefited financially from illegal activities. He specifically cited the lottery scam as an example.

"There is a kind of rut that is setting in our communities; it is not a rut that is fuelled by poverty, but fuelled by wealth, by those who have done well in the lottery scam and by virtue of their illegal gains being used to buy guns across the board and then shooting each other, that is our reality," he said.

"If you have the economic means and no culture of self-worth, then you will do that and that is why it is important to impart not just how we are going to uplift our community or how economically well we are doing, but to form an appreciation for ourselves and each other."

Disappointment

Responding to a comment made by inspector in charge of Mount Salem, Melvin Dennis, that despite isolated incidents of murders, Mount Salem was still one of the most peaceful areas in that division, Mullings said he was disappointed to hear that a day before the group's launch a man was killed in the community.

Nevertheless, he lauded the community for the initiative and pledged his commitment to support the projects, one of which is the building of a bag juice factory to employ the youths of the community.

The Citizens of Mount Salem Upliftment Group was formed by a group of citizens in an effort to address the issues at a community level, instead of depending on their political representatives to correct their problems, which include unemployment, polluted drains, and illiteracy.