These are indeed serious times that call for conversations that advance us, as nation, along the path to a better existence.

We in this space continue to pray that those in positions of public trust and leadership will take charge of the matters that continue to stifle the progress of our island home.

One millstone around the country’s neck has been the double-headed monster of crime and violence.

It has long been the call of all well-thinking Jamaicans that the crime-fight must be non-partisan if it is to be successful. What’s more, there is consensus that only an all-hands-on-deck approach will yield any appreciable success.

Such is the substance of our disappointment in the presentation by Opposition spokesman on national security Peter Bunting when he addressed the People’s National Party (PNP) Portland Western constituency conference in Buff Bay on Sunday.

Bunting, in his critique of the Government, offered no falsehoods, but it is hoped that by now that our political representatives — present, former, and hopeful — will resist the temptation to treat the state of crime and violence as a political football.

This is the level of maturity required for such a time as this.

When the facts are assessed, the primary intent of Bunting’s words was simply the scoring of a few political points.

Said Bunting: “You remember in the 2015/2016 campaign, Andrew Holness was on every platform from Negril to Morant Point promising that if you only elected him and the JLP you could sleep with your windows and doors open. Comrades, I was in Mandeville yesterday, 6 o’clock on a Friday evening, busy road jam, people a go bout dem business… All of a sudden pure automatic rifle.”

This he followed up with imitating sounds associated with gunfire.

He was referencing the most recent attack on a Beryllium cash transfer team which resulted in five people injured, two critically.

The former Member of Parliament and national security minister continued: “Dem nuh fraid a nobody; that is what has been delivered under this JLP Administration — and after seven years Andrew Holness must stop the excuses. He must stop find excuse… people to blame for his failure to control crime in this country.”

Talk on crime and violence can no longer be ammunition for one-upmanship or fodder for points-scoring on political platforms.

The political leadership, as a whole, must take responsibility for the state of affairs in this nation celebrating 61 years of Independence. All of us should by now be seized of the conviction that we are truly in this together and a conversation about solutions is the responsible way forward.

Bunting should consider himself as much a part of the solution as the Andrew Holness-led Administration he criticises.

He suggests that the Government is bankrupt of ideas but proffers no solutions to the discourse.

Not long ago he faced the same critique as he turned to divine intervention in seeming frustration.

Bunting implies, however, that he is not himself bankrupt of ideas to curtail the crime monster. What, then, has held his tongue in putting them on the table?

One would hope that Bunting is not holding them close to his chest until he and his Comrades are returned to Jamaica House.

We are told that those in Opposition have a clarity of thought not experienced in office. So, put them forward, Bunting. We can’t continue in this state if you are able to help. You have a bounden duty to make them known.