We honour and respect the age-old tradition, at this time of year, of commemorating the crucifixion of Christ which many people of faith, who number in the millions worldwide, acknowledge as one of the most important events on the Christian calendar.

There are, of course, significant numbers of people who do not embrace the Easter story. However, one doesn’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the concept of giving one’s life for another — the ultimate sacrifice that symbolises the love and value in which someone is held.

It is a concept that challenges mankind, particularly those directly engaged in nation-building. If the crucifixion offers us nothing else, it is the greatest story, perhaps, of courage on a cross. And that courage, somehow, needs to be summoned, not only in Jamaica, but across the world at this time.

We invite all, and especially those who will pack churches on Good Friday as they do each year in this great tradition, to reflect and pray for our world, with particular reference to our sister Caribbean country Haiti, where death, through violence and other heinous crimes, stalks a people who have never been allowed to enjoy the freedom for which their ancestors boldly fought more than 200 years ago; a country where, we are now being told, severe acute malnutrition poses an imminent threat to the lives of more than 125,000 children; where because of the actions of bloodthirsty gangsters, nearly five million people — almost half the population — have been driven into “high levels of acute food insecurity”.

We also invite reflection and prayer for people in other strife-torn parts of planet Earth as we hope that the efforts of peacemakers will prevail, thus returning stability to those nations.

Thankfully, the planet has not seen conflict on the scale of World War II, that ended in 1945. However, we cannot watch passively Russia’s war in Ukraine, even as we acknowledge the tough task facing individuals and organisations working hard at having both sides resolve their differences.

Here, in our own home, Jamaica, there is still much to be done to create the kind of society that makes us comfortable living here and investing in our future. While we are seeing impressive improvements in the economy, so much so that the Government and Opposition are competing for paternity of the macroeconomic gains, there is no doubt that health, education, and the ever-nagging problem of crime need more attention.

Improvements, we know, don’t normally come in large waves; they are achieved by strategic, deliberate steps carefully taken so as to avoid convulsion that would counter any gains.

With that in mind, we remind our fellow Jamaicans that, while the crucifixion was not about money and worldly affairs, it provides us with lessons of sacrifice, guiding us to look out for one another and do what is best to achieve the progress and prosperity which we all deserve.

We wish all our valuable readers and advertisers, here and across the world, a peaceful and Holy Easter filled with compassion, gratitude, faith, hope, and love.