Dear Editor,

Having read an article penned by Lisa Hanna on Sunday, February 23 in the Jamaica Observer titled ‘Behind every Jamaican gangster is a woman’, I felt compelled to respond, especially when she touched on the role women play and how they could make a difference.

The ideas espoused in the article sound good in theory and make for catchy headlines and talk of the day, but realistically speaking: What more can be done to empower women economically and otherwise that has not been done before?

You can lead the horse to water but you cannot force it to drink.

Just like their male counterparts who have decided to engage in a life of crime, so too have these women made that same decision.

It’s full time corporate Jamaica, the Church, the State, and service clubs partner to develop long-term meaningful initiatives that give these people who see no other alternatives to crime an increased sense of pride, self-esteem, and a level of self-accomplishment. Until then, all we will end up doing is writing these beautiful columns and making beautiful speeches that end up nowhere fast.

Wayne Johns

w.o.johns@hotmail.com