Prevention better than cure

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Why does a tragedy have to occur before the authorities act in this country? The recent abduction and subsequent death of the eight-year-old Braeton Primary School student is yet another example of this grave flaw. Why is there such a glaring lack of foresight where the safety and security of Jamaica’s children are concerned?

Likewise, a citizen has to die, due to a collapsed bridge, before a new bridge is erected; a blind person has to fall into a manhole before it is covered; and a public thoroughfare has to be flooded, due to consistently uncleaned drains – causing great inconvenience and danger to pedestrians and motorists – before the matter is addressed.

It is time for the authorities to do the necessary risk assessments, consistently, and implement the necessary safety features and infrastructure, before a tragedy occurs, in various critical areas of national life.

Likewise, the authorities must do everything in their power to make it harder and harder for depraved and immoral persons to commit a crime and/or get away with it.

Do better, authorities. You are failing too often to prevent tragedies of various kinds from occurring. As the saying goes: “prevention better than cure”.

PATRICK GALLIMORE