Letter of Day | Reignite culture of love, kindness and brotherhood

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The year 2023 has just begun and already there are murders. Me nah tell a lie, me ‘fraid. What is even scarier is the fact that it is scary to watch news broadcasts as most stories are about violent crimes. Even several countries are warning their nationals to stay away from Jamaica, or be careful when visiting the island. The ‘Jamaica No Problem’ mantra is diminishing steadily.

Will crime and violence ever stop? Will we ever be able to sleep with our grills, windows and doors open again? Will Jamaica ever become the place where we want to live, work and raise our beautiful families? Answer these mind-boggling questions and let us have an analytical conversation.

We need to stop it. It is 2023 now, and if we need Jamaica’s economy to grow and our GDP ratio to stabilise or increase, we need to get this crime problem rectified once and for all.

Why are we so backward in our thinking, actions and approaches in solving crimes. Why can’t we invest in the brightest minds, latest technological tools and the best analysts to tackle crime? This is the time for less talking and more action. What are the New Year resolutions or crime-planning efforts of the Government?

It can be that we are going to experience anther year of bloodshed, murderers, narcotic trafficking, human trafficking, extortions, nepotism, gangs and corruption, geopolitics and blame gaming. Remember, we were promised greatness, safety and prosperity in the last election’s campaign from the government’s manifesto. People, have you been experiencing prosperity, safety and a great place to live, work and grow families? I don’t know about you, but I am not.

It is high time that we, the people of Jamaica, reclaim the country as a place where a village grows the child, where children attend Sunday or Sabbath school, or they are engaged in games such as dandy-shandy, skipping rope, Chinese skip, play marbles, hop-scotch, jacks, and ball, snake and ladder, hide and seek, baseball, and tag.

There needs to be a change in direction; and people should see or feel a sense of hope, and be safe. We need to stop the ‘crab inna barrel’ mentality; it nah go nowhere in 2023. We all need to ‘kotch crime’ and report it.

While Valiant sang about Dunce Cheque, we need to do a crime check for Jamaica if we want more investment, less brain drain, and more wealth as a nation.

Now is the time for us to reignite love, kindness and brotherhood to lead Jamaica on the path of growth, prosperity and low crime rates.

KAREN MCFARLANE