The Editor, Sir:

It is sad to see representatives of the Church and civil society are crying out for stronger leadership to reduce crime in Jamaica. Proper policy analysis and formulation are needed, not an antiquated mindset whereby we try to lead with a heavy hand or by forcing young men into military service. Such mandatory service would only further promote the sentiments that authority figures do not respect these 'likkle bwoys'.

Jamaica is looking at this issue from the wrong perspective. We are trying to treat the symptoms instead of the entire organism (the troubled youth). The later method would be more effective in the long run.

It is time Jamaica stops harkening to the antiquated bellowing of men behind pulpits or distanced individuals like Mr. Mark Kerr-Jarrett who employ a slave-master mentality when looking at our sons, brothers and uncles instead of looking at them as individuals. To think that you can whisk off a man or a woman as if they were a child is absurd. This heavy-handed approach in rearing children or governing society only perpetuates our dilemma.

I am, etc.,

JAMES McBEAN

jmcbean2jhu.edu