Dear Editor,

Our nation made a major mistake earlier this year. We thought that the security forces’ incursion into Tivoli Gardens was a national panacea, and the subsequent activities surrounding Christopher “Dudus” Coke were considered a miracle “fix” to the crime and violence ills of our island nation.

Regular headlines such as: “Jamaica’s murder rate takes another dip”, “Murders Drop 42 per cent in August: Third month of decline” and “Jamaica’s monthly murder rate dips below 80 for the first time since July 2002” appeared in our national newspapers. Public pronouncements accompanied the headlines and some asked why such an intimidating show of force and presence by the security forces had not been attempted before.

By the time October came around, public servants such as Minister Dwight Nelson and Police Commissioner Owen Ellington were beginning to look as if their places as heroes in the annals of Jamaican history were secured. However, the December 19 gruesome, brutal and wicked triple killings, including a six-year-old in August Town, show that we still need a cure! And it is not an isolated incident.

Do you remember Friday, August 13, “Eight murdered in Tredegar Park St Catherine”, allegedly by Klansman gang members? Do you remember Tuesday, October 5? “Seven shot in one night (four died) in Clarendon/St Catherine”, by unknown assailants. Do you remember Wednesday November 17? “Waterford High School Manning Cup Football Team member and his stepfather killed and their home torched” in Newlands, St Catherine.

These cruel incidents show us clearly that the “crime suppressive” actions of the security forces, though welcome, were not a panacea and we still need a cure. The cure we need is a moral,

value-based one because the “disease” seems to indicate a lack of values or morals. Moral here is not referring to something mystical or religious which only few may feel inclined to embrace. Moral speaks simply to a new belief code and related behavioural practices (customs).

For example, respect and reverence for life is not a current Jamaican value. If it were, we would not disrespect each other for the slightest of reasons! If it were, you would not feel the sting of impoliteness at a government agency by those being paid to be polite to you.

If respect and reverence for life were current Jamaican values, your money would not be taken with a snarl instead of a smile as you make your purchase at a business place. If it were, you would not tense up as you approach a police road check, and worry that the police officers may distress you instead of defend you, as they fulfil their duty “to protect and serve”.

We do not value each other enough to relate respectfully to each other, even when it is our job to do so. Respect and reverence for life must become part of our new moral code and customs – from Jamaica House to Waterhouse, from Parliament to every tenement. Murders will decrease when morals increase!

Dr Andrew Higgins

dr.andrew.higgins@yahoo.com