Dear Editor,

Donna-Lee Donaldson — a name most Jamaicans now know by heart.

As I am writing this, my heart weeps. Such an apparently wonderful young lady, gone. Disappeared. Our hearts are broken, and we keep our ears peeled for any update.

We wonder how her loving mother, her biggest advocate, is coping. I remember she did an interview, one of her very first and she said, “When it rains, I wonder if my baby is getting wet.” These are the gut-wrenchingly pained words of a mother who has lost her baby. No one could ever presume to understand it.

We are deeply hurt; we are justifiably angry. This is getting personal now. We can no longer ignore it. We don’t see crime now as “out there” and among “those people”, we see it now as “in here” and “among us” in our homes, in our neighbourhoods, in our children’s schools. Violence. Everywhere. No place is exempt.

It’s ubiquitous and there’s nothing we can do about it. Or so we told ourselves until we realised we are who we needed to fix this problem all along. Donna-Lee’s disappearance has forced us to acknowledge this fact.

Donna-Lee, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. We will never forget her, and we will not stop until she is found. The nation is outraged. And rightfully so; we want to know where she is. And we are aghast at the monsters who could harm such a girl, her mother’s daughter.

She is the subject of so many national discourses — on air, online; in our dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms. Our family members in the Diaspora are talking to us about it on the phone. Donna-Lee is on everyone’s mind.

She was even on the stage at Reggae Sumfest, one of the most celebrated shows in Jamaica, attended by both locals and visitors alike, who often buy up all the rooms in the north of the island. Jahshii, recent breakout artiste who brings a degree of honesty and authenticity to the entertainment and reggae/dancehall scene, gave a moving performance and specifically addressed Donna-Lee’s disappearance.

The eyes of everyone in the audience was transfixed on him as he spoke. His voice held so much sincerity and carried so much emotion that it could have moved anyone to tears. Using his performance and the wide reach of Reggae Sumfest as a platform for advocacy, Jahshii called on the Government to say something.

The Government must be aware of what is going on. It must know the national sentiment regarding the Donna-Lee case. It must know that Jamaicans are angry with its deafening silence. It must know Jamaicans are hurting. So why nothing?

The Government must be choosing to stay silent for some greater good. As disappointing as this may be to hear, we must look at the larger issue. Both individuals who are of interest to the police in Donna-Lee’s disappearance have retained counsel.

A man has a right to his good name and to fiercely defend his freedom, especially where there is no proof of wrongdoing. So it is in perfect order that individuals are accorded the benefit of the doubt.

Were the Government to say something, anything at all, it could become a basis of defence for an accused, if such a person is identified, and that would be a tragedy.

Do not mistake the Government’s silence for lack of interest or concern or a lack of intense work behind the scenes. There might be much more happening than we know or understand, and it would be unwise to take any action that could affect the delivery of justice.

What we can do, as citizens, is to continue to keep Donna-Lee’s name on our tongues and in our hearts.

What the police ought to do is provide the country with periodic updates (or as is relevant) to reassure us that work continues and will continue to be done until answers are found.

Heather Simms

Heathersimms41@gmail.com