Dear Editor,

It should be abundantly clear to the government and all the other leaders of the country that the general level of violence has reached intolerable proportions. It is destroying the fabric of civil society and can no longer be tolerated. Crime must be attacked strenuously and interminably until all the evil sources of violence are eliminated.

The matter is of such urgency that now is the time for the prime minister to call for a total national assault on violence. The churches must be mobilised. The schools must be mobilised. The trade unions must be mobilised. The entire society of Jamaica must be mobilised and thrown collectively into the concerted attack.

Led by the army and the police, this must be an effort requiring the participation of every adult according to that individual’s capacity and position. On this there can be no delay, no procrastination and no diminution of effort. The very future of Jamaica is at stake.

Bradford Johnson

Kingston 10