The Editor, Sir:

Our inability as a society to protect the most vulnerable among us is being highlighted and exploited on a daily basis. Our little nation has, so far, this year, recorded over 1,000 murders; nine police men have had their lives extinguished and now our schools are deteriorating into killing fields.

School compounds are no longer safe havens but instead are war zones where our nation's future leaders are being slaughtered. As unfortunate as our situation seems, should we really be surprised? As a society we have failed to safeguard the malleable minds of the young from the vulgarity which obtains within our culture. We have continuously fed our youths a destructive diet of slackness, vulgarity and badmanism, whether through our music, our attitudes towards each other or our behavioural tendencies.

deep trouble

I dare say what many of us already know, our nation is in deep trouble. It is with this in mind that I urge us all to act with a sense of urgency which is unparalleled, for if we don't view the recent stabbing death of Goran Jones as a watershed then we will continue to express hopelessness with regards to our predicament.

We need the Ministry of Education to ensure that all schools are equipped with metal detectors complemented with allotments of trained school resource officers. The ministry must also hold schools accountable that are lax in the usage of the equipment provided. School administrators must use all the security options available to them, including metal detectors, daily as well as the wearing of ID cards by all students and staff members.

don't wait for 'Peace Day'

Agencies such as the Child Development Agency and the Office of the Children's Advocate must also play their part. They must arm themselves with information on students who appear to be delinquent or troubled. They must then proceed to visit the homes to ascertain an idea of what is happening. Other organisations such as PALS must roll out continuous intervention programmes. They must not wait for "Peace Day" to arrive.

The Jamaica Teachers Association must break its incredible silence and move to contribute to the process, and finally, we need more responsible parenting. In essence, parents must be parents. They must not hesitate to search their children before and after school. If they fail in this endeavour then they should be warned or sanctioned.

I cannot end without asking the youth to be more responsible. We need more young people who are willing to be different for the right reasons. It is my sincere hope that decisive and sensible action will follow, for we must act urgently. Our country's future is at stake.

I am, etc;

NOEL MATHERSON

noelmatherson@gmail.com

St Elizabeth