THE Association of Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM) is urging Prime Minister Andrew Holness to establish a ministry to address the moral and social decay which it says is now rampant in Jamaica.

In a letter to Holness dated Sunday, September 10, the ACCM says it takes note of his recent disclosure that a Ministry of the Family, Social Development and Social Interaction is under active consideration by the Government.

“The ACCM believes this is a step in the right direction and continues to offer assistance in this regard,” said the group as it pointed to a statement it released in February calling on the Parliament and Government to immediately effect a plan of action to halt the evident decay in law and moral order of the society.

“Our statement noted the recurring news of the abductions, the brutal rape and murder of our children, the buggery of our boys, suicides, the wanton theft and corruption along with the general breakdown in godliness, pointing to an abandonment of righteous principles on which the Jamaican society was built.

“The unfortunate gun attack on the offices of Nationwide News Network recently, which the ACCM strongly condemns, must also be added to this list of grave moral decadence,” the group said.

It pointed out that in its statement in February it argued that the levels of immorality and disregard for decency would only lead to greater destruction of families, businesses and communities which are still the backbone of the nation.

“We then called on the Government, with the full support of the Church at all levels, to lead the nation into a period of mourning, fasting and prayers of repentance. We recalled that previous administrations across the political divide have attempted to implement a values-based transformation programme for society.

“Although these initiatives had limited success, we urged the Parliament and Government to set up a Commission/Ministry on National and Family Values reporting to the people, through their House of Representatives,” the ACCM said.

It argued that this commission/ministry should become the vehicle mandated to promote transformational family values throughout society.

“In our view such a commission/ministry must be tasked to promote and incentivise the family, where children are nurtured according to righteous values as outlined in the Holy Scriptures.

“We urge the Government to ensure that those at the helm of this important commission/ministry best represent the standard to which we want our people to aspire. We believe that this move towards such a commission/ministry will significantly reduce most ills plaguing our society, including issues affecting our children, domestic violence, shootings, gangsterism and its offshoots, as well as general disorder,” said the group of Christian media workers.