Dear Editor,

Many words have been spoken but no action taken as we fast approach the one-year anniversary of the event which can be described as the Armadale Tragedy. Our collective attention is now tuned in to the findings of the enquiry, but the truth is that the Commission of Enquiry was somewhat unnecessary as it was a well-known secret that wards of the state were regularly subjected to physical, mental and psychological abuse. Many of us knew very well what was happening, but we chose to remain silent.

Many words have been spoken but no action taken as we fast approach the one-year anniversary of the event which can be described as the Armadale Tragedy. Our collective attention is now tuned in to the findings of the enquiry, but the truth is that the Commission of Enquiry was somewhat unnecessary as it was a well-known secret that wards of the state were regularly subjected to physical, mental and psychological abuse. Many of us knew very well what was happening, but we chose to remain silent.

When a people and a country decide that the rehabilitation of its young people will be placed in the remit of the correctional services, this speaks volumes about how we view them, so why are we now contrite? Our attitude towards those young individuals may have sentenced them to deat, long before that horrific night.

What happened to investigative journalism? Where were the youth advocates? Where was the church? Before the night of May 22, 2009, there was very little with regards to unified opposition. Indifference and self-serving individuals contributed very much to the unspeakable horrors endured by these young misguided yet promising lives, but even more unbelievable is that mediocre parenting or callous disregard demonstrated by those so empowered in leading the rehabilitative process pales in comparison to the collective silence and tolerance on the part of the Jamaican people.

Noel Forbes Matherson

noelmatherson@gmail.com