Dear Editor,

Violence in Jamaica has become so entrenched over the years that sometimes new actions just go over our heads, as a means of self-preservation, I guess. For really, if we allowed ourselves to react to every new atrocity, isn't it possible that this country would have nothing but mad people roaming around?

However, this latest incident is just too wicked, cold-blooded and vicious not to elicit some reaction, even from a stolid prime minister who seems to think that if she condemns evil in the society or expresses outrage about anything, she could lose that valuable thing called power!

I am here referring to the hacking to death of Donovan Hazley of Zion Hill in Trelawny and the injury to his 18-year-old daughter. This apparently arose from the unfortunate drowning of seven-year old Alex Brown and 10-year-old Javani Brown.

These youngsters, from all reports, drowned in the Martha Brae River but for some strange reason the residents have convinced themselves that they were killed after allegedly being buggered by a relative of Mr Hazley's. Even if this were true, why attack the stepfather and his daughter? As severe as the loss of the children was, even if they did not die by accident as the reports might indicate, murdering innocent people just cannot be accepted.

I hope the authorities will leave no stone unturned (why does that phrase sound so hollow in this country, one of the top five murder capitals of the world?) to bring to justice those who murdered Mr Hazley, destroyed the family's home and put his 18-year-old daughter in the hospital. And if by chance the two young children were indeed murdered, every step should be taken to bring their assailants to justice.

Joan Williams

Kingston 10

gratestj@gmail.com