We must commend Ms Averie Rose Green, the People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for St James’ Mount Salem Division, and the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP’s) Mr Errol Lamey, the caretaker for the same division, on their collaboration to find peaceful solutions in the war-torn areas of that community.

According to yesterday’s edition of our sister title, the Observer West, both politicians linked up with members of the church and the St James Peace Management Initiative on Wednesday to urge members of Top and Bottom Crawford Street to end their bloody conflict.

That, coupled with their smiling images especially, conveyed a spirit of hope and unity that has been rather scarce among our senior politicians lately.

And we’re sure that some good will come of it.

Yes, Ms Rose Green, Mr Lamey and the others are to be thanked for their timely reminder that in spite of the murder and mayhem, there are still reasons to smile in Jamaica. Beyond the grim crime statistics there are survivors who, with the right type of intervention, still have a chance to make it in life.

There is lots of talent in our country, much of it untapped, just waiting to be showcased.

Young people like Ms Cornelia Jones and Ms Norlette Wilson, whose achievements are also featured in yesterday’s Observer West, are making strides in their respective fields of languages and art.

The beautiful peace garden that was recently opened at the Coke’s View Primary School in Westmoreland for the benefit of those who are experiencing difficulty in terms of managing their anger, who need somewhere peaceful to cool out and meditate, is another indication that things don’t have to be the way they are.

The pictures in yesterday’s edition of Ms Miriam Woodstock celebrating her 100th birthday in the community of Waterhouse and the highlight of the LIME telecommunications company’s first annual ‘Kindness Day’, are also valuable reminders that life is going on in spite of the recession and its many complications.

Even yesterday’s story about the two men — Messers Valbert Mawaldi Harvey and Shemar Smith — who turned themselves in to the police on Wednesday is something to celebrate, indicative as it is that all is not lost as far as our beleaguered justice system is concerned.

If these two men are willing to be handled by a system that purports to hold individuals innocent until proven guilty, how much more should those who we know, know better?

We are happy to be able to report these inspirational stories.

For they add balance to the heavy burden of corruption and depression that will, unchecked, topple us.