DRESSED in black, which he said was deliberate, philanthropist and Supreme Ventures Foundation Director Leighton McKnight last Thursday expressed deep concern over the rising tide of violence against women and children in the country.

Delivering a heartfelt keynote address during the foundation’s Supreme Hero Finals held at ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston, McKnight said his choice of clothing was a reflection of the grief he feels for the state of the nation.

“When my promoter spoke to me about what I’m wearing today, I said, ‘I’m in my Supreme [Ventures] shirt,’ but I didn’t tell her I am wearing black. But I’m in black today because I’m in mourning. I’m in mourning, and with what’s going on across our country, we need more and more heroes,” he said solemnly.

McKnight recalled a string of recent tragedies that hit close to home, including the brutal killing of a teenage girl and the suicide of former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant Tyra Spaulding.

“Just week before last one of my mentees, Jada — she’s in sixth form — gunmen went into their house up in Smokey Vale… one shot in her mouth and killed her on the spot,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

“The following week, another young lady I used to mentor, Tyra Spaulding, committed suicide. I knew Tyra, I used to mentor Tyra. I spoke to her mother this morning too,” he added, pausing as the room fell silent.

Citing recent newspaper headlines — ‘No Mercy: Gunmen target women, children in central Kingston shooting’ in the
Jamaica Observer and ‘Children in firing line’ in The Gleaner — McKnight lamented that violence has become a chilling norm.

“Last week, as you know, over in Linstead, Commodore, there was a mass shooting. A four-year-old was murdered. This week again in central Kingston, similar. Kids are being murdered. We cannot continue like this,” he said.

Referencing Bob Andy’s 1970s reggae classic Fire Burning, McKnight used music to illustrate the social decay he believes is spreading across Jamaica.

“That song was written more than 50 years ago and it’s more relevant today than it was then, I can tell you that. And when Bob Andy is saying the haves will want to be in the shoes of the have-nots, what he’s saying [is]: If you keep having, and your neighbour’s child keep not having, sooner or later they’re [have-nots] going to rise up, and they’re [haves] going to wish they didn’t have. So this thing about giving back is also about self-preservation; we have to work and help each other,” he said.

Appealing for national empathy, McKnight recited the opening line of American singer George Benson’s 1977 classic The Greatest Love of All, which was eight years later covered by American singer Whitney Houston: “I believe the children are our future. Treat them well, and let them lead the way.”

He said Jamaica must nurture its children with love in order to break the country’s cycle of anger and violence.

“Children are growing without love so all they know is to shoot and kill, so we have a responsibility. It’s our job to do it,” he stressed, then threw out a challenge to the audience — and to Jamaica as a whole — to care more deeply.

“Jamaica will not become better by better policing and better solidarity. It will not become better because of people who have. It will become better with an understanding that people can care [for those] who are in need. It’s going to get better because of those who care,” he said.