We are reeling from the news that a mother and four children were murdered in Cocoa Piece, Clarendon, allegedly by a relative.

What could make a man’s heart so cold that he could commit such a horrific act?

It was reported that he was seen sharpening a knife and muttering about killing. Have we become so inured to murder that this did not raise an alarm?

While the security forces are busy weeding out criminals, the Church must now get busier saving souls. Archbishop Kenneth Richards, chairman of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC), wrote in a letter to the editor, “It is particularly disheartening to note that all the children who lost their lives were under the age of 16.” He quoted God’s words to Cain from the book of Genesis, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.”

Now we have the blood of thousands of our brothers and sisters crying out to us and the Church must now redouble its efforts to reach these criminals because pastors know them. As evil as they are, they will always turn to the Church to christen their babies and bury their dead.

The Church should develop a programme around these activities, using it to embolden the family elders and shame the criminals. It will take courage, but many a pastor has been able to convince families to bring their wayward young men to them, then assist them to turn themselves in and allow the law to take its course.

There are safety nets in churches for our youth, such as counselling and mentorship, assistance with identifying and applying for jobs, and training in leadership to strengthen their self-esteem.

Churches cannot falter in these dangerous times; their role beyond the altar is what will save souls and save lives.

They can play a critical role in helping the Ministry of Education to find the children who have not returned to school and help needy parents to apply for assistance through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) if they need funding.

As members of the Church we cannot resile from our responsibility. If we can quote Jesus’s teachings by heart, we must then remember to live them. One of the readings I heard last week was of the Good Shepherd who went to great lengths to find that one lost sheep and bring it to safety.

Leighton McKnight, by example, has shown us how this can be done. The territory leader of PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor of Excellence, McKnight has been dubbed Fyah for his passion for the Jamaican people.

A Jamaica Observer editorial recounted: “The story goes back to 2016 when a horrifying video went viral of a very angry, clearly frustrated mother [Doreen Dyer], skilfully, but savagely, beating her young daughter with the flat side of a machete.” We hear from McKnight that, “When I saw the video clip, at first I was totally outraged like most people.” Then, after reflection, it came to him “that both mother and daughter needed help, and there must be more to the video”.

We understand McKnight consulted his friend Dr Michael Abrahams to give counsel. McKnight shared, “What I saw represented frustration and perhaps hopelessness. I decided to help.” With his assistance to the child and a sibling, her grades shot up, and having graduated, she will shortly begin to study nursing.

Consider McKnight’s comfortable life as a successful professional, he could use his spare time for so many other activities, yet he chooses to spend it looking out for these children and dedicating himself to numerous Kiwanis projects. His recent honorary doctorate from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean is well deserved. Let us find that compassion to change more lives.

JOHNSON SMITH’S STRONG CAMPAIGN

Our Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith took us on an exciting journey as she vied for the post of Commonwealth secretary general at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, last week. She was edged out by the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland, by only two votes.

The ever-gracious Johnson Smith posted on social media: “Thanking all the countries and people who supported me in this journey! As I said to many of you, if I didn’t pull through, God wasn’t ready for me to leave Jamaica yet! Much love always, I continue to serve, and of course, sincere congratulations to Baroness Scotland. #OneLove.”

We are proud that Johnson Smith received support from India and the United Kingdom, giants of the Commonwealth, as well as Belizeand Trinidad and Tobago. The Commonwealth has missed out on having one of the brightest, hardest-working leaders we know, and Jamaica is grateful that she is still here.

The Commonwealth has considerable clout. It comprises 54 independent countries from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Asia, and Europe with a total population of 2.5 billion. Our own Colonel Merrick Needham served as chief executive officer (conferences) at the Commonwealth Secretariat until he was invited by then Prime Minister Edward Seaga to return to Jamaica to run the Jamaica 21 celebration in 1983.

EXCITING NATIONAL TRIALS

The novel coronavirus pandemic has been no match for our brilliant athletes who participated at the National Trials last week to qualify for the World Championships in Oregon.

There was a low point on Friday when the sound failed four times at the start of the women’s 100m final, which was upsetting for the athletes. When the race was eventually held, the world’s fastest woman Elaine Thompson-Herah came third, securing her place, and the versatile, gutsy Shericka Jackson was the winner.

It was heartening to see Yohan Blake make his comeback over a younger field in the 100m final, and on Saturday Hansle Parchment and Omar McLeod secured their places in the 110m hurdles final, and stars Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Thompson-Herah, and Jackson dominated their 200m heats.

I am now at press time, but I can say that Sunday’s finals will be a great watch. Very good of Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange to give free admission to the Bleachers section. Oregon, here we come!

FAREWELL, FRANCIS TULLOCH

We are mourning with our dear friend Anne Marie Tulloch Thomas the passing of her brother, attorney-at-law Francis Tulloch, former Member of Parliament, tourism minister, and deacon of the Roman Catholic Church, serving at the Sacred Heart Church in Reading, St James.

At last Friday’s meeting of the Senate, Senator Tom Tavares-Finson noted Francis Tulloch’s service as Member of Parliament for four different constituencies in St James and Hanover. Senator Janice Allen, who had worked as his assistant at the tourism ministry shared, “He was a man of equity, a man who believed in the people, a man who believed and was led by the importance of service to people… He always said, ‘What about the small hoteliers, what about Miss Mildred McCalla and [the] craft traders, what about the raftsmen in Martha Brae or Portland?…He believed in fairness and balance.”

Condolence to his widow, Doreen Perry-Tulloch, and family. May the great and kind soul of Francis Tulloch rest in peace.