Dear Editor,

I have been deeply disturbed by reports and social media videos circulating about the violence that occurred at the Best Weekend Ever Zimi Seh party in St Ann.

What is particularly troubling is the level of callousness and disregard for human life and basic decency displayed during the incident. Even more disturbing, however, is what appears to have happened as the two young men retreated. From the videos circulating, it appears that they were pursued and beaten by a group of adult men. If these reports are accurate, we must ask ourselves: What kind of example are we setting for our children and young people?

There is something profoundly wrong when grown men feel justified in physically attacking young people, particularly when those young people are attempting to retreat from a confrontation. Violence cannot become our default response to conflict.

But there is another issue that demands serious scrutiny: How did two minors reportedly gain entry to an event advertised as being for persons 18 years and older?

I understand that one of the young men is reportedly 15 years old and the other 17. If that is confirmed, then this raises serious questions for the event organisers, promoters, security personnel, and anyone else responsible for enforcing the event’s age restrictions. Who checked their identification? What measures were in place to prevent minors from entering? And, perhaps most importantly, where was the duty of care owed to these young people once they were inside?

I am not suggesting that being underage excuses anyone’s behaviour or that we should prejudge the facts of the incident. Rather, I am calling for a proper, impartial investigation into all aspects of what happened, including the circumstances that led to the confrontation, the conduct of those involved in the alleged assault, how the minors entered the event, and whether appropriate security and safety protocols were followed.

This is bigger than one party or one altercation. St Ann is one of Jamaica’s premier tourism destinations, and we should be deeply concerned about the message incidents like this send, not only to our children, but also to visitors.

We cannot promote Jamaica as a place of warmth, hospitality, and world-class entertainment while allowing violence and disorder to overshadow our events, and young people should not grow up believing that a group of adults beating someone is an acceptable way to resolve a dispute.

Those responsible for the alleged violence must be held accountable if the facts establish wrongdoing. At the same time, those responsible for admitting minors to an adults-only event must answer legitimate questions about how that happened and what safeguards were, or were not, in place.

The public deserves answers, and the young people involved deserve to know that their safety and dignity matter.

Our children are watching us. The world is watching Jamaica. We must do better.

Patrice McLean

Brown’s Town, St Ann

patmclean74@gmail.com