Can we find the will?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

EVIDENCE HAS shown that the adage, "Where there is a will, there is a way" rings true. History is replete with records of nations which were con-fronted with one difficulty or another but found a way to deal with their adversities success-fully. We may have witnessed individuals around us who were faced with many complexities in their lives but have found the gumption and the strength to crawl back from the brink of destruction.

The question I am asking today is, "Does Jamaica have the will?" It was interesting to note that in The Gleaner of Friday, April 30, it was reported that the police in the Cayman Islands enlisted 14 British policemen as they attempt to deal with gang-related crime in that country. In addition, the commissioner in charge "has cancelled rest days and vacation for all police officers". This initiative took place as that country "attempts to solve the islands' five murders and one kidnapping case". On the front page of The Gleaner of that same day, the statistics showed that in Jamaica, 535 were killed in 119 days.

It would appear that aspects of the crime-initiative plans are just not working. Can we, therefore, implement other strategies to tackle this monster before it gobbles up any more of our children, women, men and very soon our entire nation? How many more of our people must be slaughtered and maimed like mere animals? What about bringing out the soldiers to help? Some of the killings are taking place in broad daylight! What are we waiting for?

Can the leaders of the country - not only verbally but through deliberate actions - make the eradication of crime and violence one of the main foci of the country? What about accessing help from outside to deal with the problem?

How much more blood has to run before those who are primarily responsible for the security of the nation do something? Does the Govern-ment have the will? Does the Church?

Do we, therefore, resign ourselves to cowering in fear behind our burglar bars and electronic gates for the rest of our lives? I humbly suggest that "if there's a will, there is a way". Do we have the will? Can we find a way?

I am, etc.,

Dona Marie Sewell