Jamaica’s 2023 Rhodes Scholar, David Salmon says the island’s communities are in crisis and in dire need of intervention, including a wide-scale system of restorative justice to tackle crime.

Salmon made the remarks at the 43rd Annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, held under the theme, “Strengthening Communities through Peace, Justice and Forgiveness”, at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.

“Currently our communities are under crisis. A crisis of hopelessness, a crisis characterised by despair, choked by the snares of criminality… achieving lasting peace requires the recognition of the importance of placing God at the centre of our relationships,” Salmon said.

He also stated that in order for communities to have a positive change, the people must “treat our neighbours with respect that they deserve.”

“How many conflicts have started due to perceived disrespect, a snide remark? How many lives could have been saved if we stopped and remembered who we are? How many times has anger prevailed?” Salmon asked, as he urged the public to remember that ‘we are each other’s keeper,’” Salmon said.

Salmon, who was also the recipient of the HRH The Prince of Wales Commonwealth Scholarship, said restorative justice is also needed in the communities.

“We must have a consensus on crime and maintain an unwavering commitment to its implementation. Placing our communities at the centre of these discussions is essential. To restore our communities we must also use fairness in carrying out justice,” Salmon argued.

“Restorative justice is needed throughout our communities in order to amicably settle our disputes,” he said.

Turning his attention to the country’s leaders, Salmon urged them to refrain from partaking in corruption.

“We are looking for people who are committed to building our communities. We are united in our common purpose to see action on this front. I take this opportunity to charge our leaders to resist the allure of corruption,” Salmon stated, as he encouraged the country’s youth to live with integrity.

Meanwhile, in his address, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said the Government is committed to justice.

“We hear the cry for justice. Sometimes it may be slow in community through the lack of capacity and the resources, but we are committed,” Allen said.

“Amid the need for peace, are also the cries for justice… Some of the ways we can continue to uplift our country is by strengthening and optimising our justice system to better serve our country, encouraging reconciliation and rehabilitation outside of the official court system,” he said.

Additionally, the Governor General said the Government must continue to engage the communities in sports and other healthy interactions that will help to promote the values of respect, discipline and camaraderie.

“Continue to support the neighbourhood watch through the community benevolence programme, which are valuable tools that will encourage care and the welfare of others and the protection of personal and communal recreational property,” Allen stated.