Dear Editor,

The newly appointed Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson, at the beginning of his tenure, would do well by finding out what are the contributing factors of the monstrosity of crime and violence in Jamaica and address the findings accordingly.

At the same time, with enhanced security measures in effect in Montego Bay, and the entire parish of St James, I am suggesting that all stakeholders, including many more parents, teachers, moralists, law enforcement agencies, institutions of learning, and other relevant authorities, also pay greater attention to finding out the root causes of the proliferation of this monster and development of the social disease of crime and violence. Then, together, appropriate and adequate steps can be taken, once and for all, to eradicate this scourge of criminality taking place throughout the island.

Many of us already understand that the illegal scamming and illegal drug trade were originally the crucial influences that contributed to the growth of crime and violence over the years.

However, there are other pertinent root causes such as poor parenting with weak family structures, lack of adequate education given to many of our teenagers who are raising families, lack of employment experienced by youngsters, inadequate mentorship given to the young generation for them to emulate good values and attitudes, among others.

Meanwhile, not many Jamaicans are prepared to conform and sacrifice in order to become more disciplined and adopt the right mental attitude, moral training, orderly behaviour, and obedience to the rules set out by those in authority.

No wonder this social disease of crime and violence has escalated in Montego Bay, and even rural St James for that matter, which is now hampering the Second City’s economic growth and causing a demoralising effect on the citizenry across the parish and beyond.

To me, it would be prudent that all the stakeholders involved with this integral process of curtailing crime and violence develop an overwhelmimg desire and determination to first finding out the source of contributing factors of this outrageous social disease of crime that continues to plague several communities across the length and breadth of Jamaica.

Valentine Pearson

Montego Bay, St James

valenempearson@yahoo.com