The Editor, Sir:

This is in response to Rev Devon Dick's column re 'closing churches for six months'.

Yes, Brother Dick, you have well spoken but, what I cannot understand is, why society, in confusion, has failed to put the blame where blame is due? Why has our birth control programme failed, after, sometime back, millions was spent on the programme, paying high-priced civil servants. What are we waiting on to limit families to two or three? How long will it take for this to become mandatory? This would alleviate urban over-crowding, ill-health, poverty and crime.

Why is it, that when parents fail to bring up their children properly, organisations like the church and schools are used as scapegoats? Where is the total reversal of values and standards, and back to basics, we have been waiting on and what has happened to the parenting programme? Why are children allowed to have children when, instead of proper parenting, the greater interest is in ensuring that name brand clothes must be worn, bodies must be decorated with tattoos, skin colour must be lightened and the longest hair must be worn at any cost?

It beats me to know that when I was a child, no one had to be taught parenting or how not to vandalise school furniture. Parents are now getting away scot-free. The role of parents now, is merely to drop out a child, hang a few pieces of clothes on them and expect the church and schools to work miracles with these children, including keeping them safe.

This looseness in getting children, with scant attention to them, and moving on to the next relationship and things of more importance, is a breeding ground for crime. Every family, regardless of how poor they are, must bring up their children in a Christian culture and with the help of the state. The first foundation of the child must start with good parenting.

Those in the role of parenting, and our leaders, must take full responsibility. While I have the greatest admiration for Betty-Ann Blaine, she needs to wheel and come again. She must critically analyse the Jamaican society and put the blame where blame is due.

I am, etc.,

elvena@cwjamaica.com