THE EDITOR, Sir: AS I AM an old citizen of this country I am grief-stricken because of the crimes, especially murder, which are being done almost daily. When I read of the murder of the pregnant girl, I wondered how on this earth could anyone be so wicked as to shot someone in that condition. Many persons believe that crime is due to lack of employment, education and social amenities, hence they expect the new Government to bring about a change in this respect. The Prime Minister has promised to do everything that is possible to unite the country for national development. He has stated quite clearly that great effort will be made to provide the security forces with modern equipment to combat the gunmen who are terrorising the country, so let me state my humble opinion.
No Goverment will be able to achieve this goal unless God is in control of the lives of people. Some time ago, I read that an English general who was in control of a peace-keeping force in Central Europe said that he would like the world to know that soldiers cannot change the minds of people. Not too long ago, I also read that a psychiatrist said that he could make a mad person become well, but he could not make a bad person become good.
I heard that Messrs Paul Burke and Desmond McKenzie are trying to bring about peace in their warring communities in Kingston, but success will only be achieved if there is a spiritual renewal. It is a known fact that our words and our actions are the result of our thoughts.
The Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, and we should do unto others as we want them to do to us. The key to a change for the better in our society, is based on love. When we love God, we will want to please Him, forgiving one another, as we want Him to forgive us.
I plead with our politicians and people of goodwill to spread the message that better will come to Jamaica only when God is in control of our lives. He will then empower us to do to others as we would like them to do to us.
I am, etc.,
SARAH SUTHERLAND
Port Antonio
