Dear Editor,

As a father of 14 sons — 13 living and one tragically lost to murder at just nine years old — I live in constant fear for my boys here in Jamaica.

Week after week, we hear of another young man cut down by the police. Let me be clear: If a young man chooses crime, he must face the consequences. But what of those who choose honesty and hard work?

Of my 13 surviving sons, five live in Jamaica. I’ve raised them to respect the law, to work hard, and to come to me — not to crime — when they need help. One son, 22, is a successful Forex trader and is close to buying his first BMW. I’m proud of his achievements, but I worry the police will see his success and assume he’s a scammer. Must every young man with ambition be treated as a criminal?

Another son, a former tattoo artist, now runs a plant business selling coconut suckers and other crops. He works tirelessly, and though his venture has its struggles, he knows I’ll support him. Recently, at 5:00 am, he called me in panic — police were battering down his door. Terrified (as any young man here would be), he answered, knowing he had nothing to hide. I stayed on the phone, listening as they took him in, searched his home and car, and found nothing but the plants he’d told them about. Yet after his release, officers allegedly warned him: “If we come back, we’ll kill you.”

Now, a hard-working father himself, he lives in fear. And so do I — every ring of the phone sends my heart racing. I love Jamaica, but how can we build a future if our police see every young man as a threat?

A Ferrari

originaliru@gmail.com