George Henry, Gleaner Writer

Reverend Jacob Powell addresses parents at the Sharon Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, on Friday. - Photo by George Henry

MALVERN, St Elizabeth:

A St Elizabeth pastor is urging parents to make it clear that they will not tolerate the ongoing assault on the nation's children.

Addressing scores of parents at the monthly dedication of babies, held at his Sharon Baptist Church in Santa Cruz on Friday, Reverend Jacob Powell said that as parents reflect on the lives of their children and the many experiences they encounter, there is cause for them to wonder whether the nation's youth would grow up in a safe and kind world.

Barbaric and animalistic behaviour

"For a couple of months, we have been hearing about the attacks on our children, and children who cannot defend themselves. Because of these things, those of us who have a voice, must allow our voices to be heard, and you as parents have the strongest voice and must allow it to be heard," Powell said.

He stated that our nation has become a wilderness in which we have people who behave like animals. Powell added that the slaying of children cannot be likened to anything but barbaric and animalistic behaviour.

"We need to stand somewhere and make our protests, and I would pray to God that the parents in this country will just rise up and send a statement to government, to gunmen and to the dons who believe that they own our country, so they may know that we want our children to live," he said.

Powell was quick to point out that he was not calling on parents to resort to blocking roads or any such activity, but that he wanted parents to make quiet protests and send a message that enough is enough.