All too often we are reminded of how children and young people can easily end up on the wrong path in the absence of strict monitoring and proper guidance from their elders.

At Ocho Rios High School in St Ann earlier this week, a 12-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the thigh when a gun which a 14-year-old schoolmate was allegedly handling, discharged.

In Kendal/Williamsfield, Manchester, a shooting involving the police left a 14-year-old schoolboy, a motor vehicle passenger, dead and his 20-year-old brother, the driver, injured. Relatives and residents claim the injured driver was attempting to elude the police because he had no driver’s licence.

We are thankful that the injury to the 12-year-old girl was apparently not life-threatening. The trauma for her, as well as relatives and friends, can only be imagined.

And let’s not forget the 14-year-old, now in police custody, and whose life has taken an extremely unfortunate turn. His parents/guardians, too, are now under great pressure. How and where did their child gain access to the gun? It’s possible they, too, are asking those questions.

Regardless of the circumstances, it is more evidence why adults at home, in communities, school, everywhere, must pay close attention to children and their activities. We must never take it for granted that they know better and will act accordingly.

Some will blame the school. We are not so inclined. It is very difficult for teachers and school leaders to so tightly police their students that occurrences such as that at Ocho Rios High are always prevented.

It becomes doubly difficult when the school is on the shift system, as is the case at Ocho Rios High. It’s a disgrace that close to half-a-century after the two-shift system was first introduced as a short-term measure it is still in place at some schools because of inadequate classroom spaces.

In the Manchester shooting incident involving the police we trust that investigations expose what really happened, and that justice will be done. If police personnel used deadly force without just cause they must pay the price — no ifs, nor buts.

That said, we note the comment from a grieving relative that, “Yes, they [dead 14-year-old and injured 20-year-old] were trying to elude the police because the driver didn’t have a licence. That is the only thing they are guilty of…”

This gives rise to the question: Did relatives, friends, community elders know that this young man was driving a motor vehicle without a valid licence? If they did, what did they do about it?

For, if they knew and did nothing, they too failed in their responsibility to their own.

We suspect some may have labelled as minor the very serious offence of driving without a licence. “A nuh nuttin…” they are wont to say. But by whatever means necessary, the message must reach every Jamaican that laws exist and must be obeyed.

It should be the duty, not just of those in authority, but every responsible person to get that message across to neighbours, friends, relatives, more especially, our children and young adults.