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Letter of the Day | Help our youth to correct their mistakes

Published:Tuesday | May 25, 2021 | 12:08 AM

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A young athlete from Petersfield High School, Westmoreland, while winning a race at the recent 2021 ISSA athletics championships, made a celebratory gun gesture towards the other athletes. Antonio Watson won the 200 metres and the 400 metres races and came second in the 100 metres. He is obviously talented.

I accept his apology but will still chide him never to make such offensive celebratory gun gestures again. We need to stick to our good old country “rural” people courtesies and manners from his own community of Petersfield, Westmoreland, or elsewhere. We all, I am sure, are very happy that this youth from rural Jamaica could be our Olympic champion in 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres races.

Kingston people mainly, among others, are engaged in “public stoning” of Watson instead of recognising his athletic potential. Yes, Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates on the planet, and his action was not right, but for a moment I thought young Antonio was being hurled with verbal stones. All well-intentioned people should focus on guiding this and other youth and teach them not to repeat such distasteful celebratory gestures.

I believe his action is also a reflection of the society. He was in fact living what he learned from others. The problem of gun violence is deep rooted and should be addressed at the ground level. Stop stoning the youth, and as Jimmy Cliff said, Treat the Youths Right instead of giving them a fight.

MICHAEL SPENCE

Kingston