The Editor, Sir:

Recently, Jamaicans were informed of another act of atrocity committed against one of our nation's children. This 14-year-old student of Albion Junior High was robbed of his cellular phone then stabbed to death. The murderous act was committed by another teenager only three years senior to his victim.

While I concede that many of our young men are negatively influenced by the ills of the wider society, at that tender age of 17, such displays of a lack of moral values and righteousness has to be blamed squarely on the home, or the parents to be more exact.

Though the father of this murderer has failed to instill basic values and civility in his son, his action that followed this cruelty must be publicly lauded.

Two days after his son carried out this gruesome act, he accosted and escorted him to the police station where he was handed over to face the judgement of his crime.

This is a rare occurrence in Jamaica and virtually non-existent in our inner-city communities. Considering that most of our murders are being committed by young men between the ages 17 and 25, coupled with the fact that many parents are oftentimes aware of the criminal deeds performed by their sons, if they too could adopt this noble practice and turn their criminal sons over to the law for judgement and rehabilitation to take its course, then Jamaica will be well advanced in reducing its murder rate or, at least significantly, reduce the percentage of unsolved murders and other crimes.

I am, etc.,

RICHARD O. PATTERSON

richie2sweet@yahoo.com