Dear Editor,

It is with a heavy heart and a profound sense of urgency that I write to you today to address the recent and tragic events that have shaken our nation.

The loss of innocent lives, including that of a six-year-old girl, Ariana Salmon, on Delano Avenue in Kingston, is a heartbreaking reminder of the grave crime situation that continues to afflict our beloved country.

The heinous act that unfolded on that fateful Friday night in which an innocent child and others were caught in the crossfire of senseless violence is an unequivocal plea for immediate and robust action.

The tragic death of Ariana should not be just another statistic, it should serve as a catalyst for change and a symbol of our collective failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

We cannot continue to allow our streets to be stained with the blood of our fellow citizens, especially our children. The safety and well-being of our people must be our top priority. To address this growing crisis, I propose a set of modern strategies to fight crime and restore security to our nation:

1) Community policing and engagement: Strengthen community policing efforts to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Encourage open dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and cooperation to address the root causes of crime.

2) Investment in education and youth programmes: Allocate resources to provide quality education and after-school programmes, aiming to engage and empower our youth, thereby offering them alternatives to a life of crime.

3) Technological advancements: Leverage modern technology, such as surveillance systems, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enhance law enforcement’s ability to prevent and respond to criminal activiMental health and social services: Increase access to mental health services and support for individuals at risk of falling into criminal behaviour. Addressing underlying mental health issues can help prevent crime.

5) Community empowerment: Promote economic development and job opportunities in underserved communities, providing an avenue for individuals to escape the cycle of poverty and crime.

6) Legislative reforms: Review and strengthen our existing legislation to ensure that it is both effective and just in dealing with criminal offenders.

It is crucial that these strategies are not just words on paper but actionable steps that will be implemented to transform our nation. We must come together as a society, transcending political lines to combat the root causes of crime and secure a safer future for all Jamaicans.

The tragic loss of Ariana, along with countless others, must not be in vain. Let their memories serve as constant reminders of the urgent need for change, for the protection of our children, and for the restoration of hope in our nation.

It is our duty to act swiftly and decisively to make Jamaica a safer and more secure place for all its citizens.

Janiel McEwan

janielmcewan17@gmail.com