Mr Patrick Casserly, the president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Industry and Commerce, makes an important point in yesterday’s edition of our sister title, the Observer West.

According to Mr Casserly who was elected to lead that body in April, the business community needs to get more involved in social intervention programmes in order to ensure that no one gets left behind as the country tries to find its way to economic prosperity.

Coming as it does from a successful businessman like Mr Casserly, we believe that the sentiment deserves to be highlighted, as the importance of this issue can never be over-emphasised.

For it is no secret that one of the symptoms of chronic poverty and hopelessness is crime. We have a duty to rescue the young men and women who are falling through the cracks of this society, for everyone’s sake.

The implications of failure in this regard are obvious.

As the most casual research will indicate, the antecedents of many of the law breakers who are brought to justice reveal a lack of guidance and supervision during their formative years. Yes, we are aware of the success stories of several outstanding individuals who have risen above the challenges of a less-than-ideal environment to become productive citizens.

However, they who have overcome the odds attributable to poor or non-existent parenting combined with a socially toxic environment, represent a precious minority, the exception much more than the rule.

The far more likely outcome of a poor upbringing is exactly what we are struggling to bring under control now, namely an out-of-control crime rate that has necessitated the imposition, and in our opinion extension of a State of Emergency in at least three parishes of the island.

While we would have liked to see the security forces get their request to have another one-month extension, we recognise that a State of Emergency is but a temporary measure designed for periods of crisis, which are clearly outlined in section 26 sub section 5(b) of our Constitution.

But State of Emergency or not, we will all have to face up to the responsibilities associated with ensuring that the least fortunate among us are not left behind. Otherwise we will find ourselves, de facto in a perpetual state of emergency and, by extension misery.

Children did not bring themselves into the world. And while it might seem unfair to those of us who plan our families and avoid unwanted children, we unfortunately do not escape the consequences of the actions of those who bring them carelessly into the world.

For a young nation that is endowed with so many intellectuals and prosperous people, it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out how to help our society to construct the necesary social intervention programmes.

Mr Casserly is clearly thinking in the right direction, and he quite correctly sees that without the contribution of the business community, it will be that much harder to achieve anything meaningful in this mean economic environment.