Dear Editor,
Undoubtedly, Jamaica's children are at risk. The appalling and horrendous killing of second form student Kayalicia Simpson of Donald Quarrie High School clearly reinforces this sad reality.
Ironically, on the day that the nation's schools were commemorating and celebrating Peace Day the life of this promising 14-year-old girl was being snuffed out. Disturbingly, this is becoming commonplace for many of our children.
Since the start of the year 15 children have been brutally murdered. Alarmingly, with each murder of a child the social consciousness and psyche of the society seems unmoved. A routine has developed and so we can expect the articulate minority in the society to write a few letters. However, after the dust has settled it will be business as usual. The society clearly needs a spiritual awakening to stem the tide of murders wreaking havoc on the nation's children.
Our children are our most prized possession. We must do much more to protect them and as such safeguard the nation's future.
Poverty continues to endanger the lives of our children. The children of the poor and working class are at more risk than those children of well-to-do families. It is so sad that in a modern age a student had to go outside at 4:00 am to use a bathroom.
We all have failed our children. May God grant the family of the deceased the strength to carry on during this time of their bereavement.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Undoubtedly, Jamaica's children are at risk. The appalling and horrendous killing of second form student Kayalicia Simpson of Donald Quarrie High School clearly reinforces this sad reality.
Ironically, on the day that the nation's schools were commemorating and celebrating Peace Day the life of this promising 14-year-old girl was being snuffed out. Disturbingly, this is becoming commonplace for many of our children.
Since the start of the year 15 children have been brutally murdered. Alarmingly, with each murder of a child the social consciousness and psyche of the society seems unmoved. A routine has developed and so we can expect the articulate minority in the society to write a few letters. However, after the dust has settled it will be business as usual. The society clearly needs a spiritual awakening to stem the tide of murders wreaking havoc on the nation's children.
Our children are our most prized possession. We must do much more to protect them and as such safeguard the nation's future.
Poverty continues to endanger the lives of our children. The children of the poor and working class are at more risk than those children of well-to-do families. It is so sad that in a modern age a student had to go outside at 4:00 am to use a bathroom.
We all have failed our children. May God grant the family of the deceased the strength to carry on during this time of their bereavement.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com