Dear Editor,

I join all well-thinking Jamaicans in condemning the brutal murder of 15-year-old Jamila Cole who was reportedly beaten and murdered in Trelawny earlier this week. Two of her female family members were also attacked and injured.

Based on what I am hearing on the ground in Trelawny, Jamila’s killing is suspected to be domestic in nature — a crying shame. We await the formal police reports.

What is clear is that our society needs to do better protecting its women and children. I note that Peter Bunting, the Opposition spokesman on national security, was among those who rightly condemned the murder of young Cole.

However, Bunting sought, in a quite cumbersome manner, to mix his condemnation of Cole’s murder with his now-apparent partisan fight with the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s leadership concerning the move to discipline the controversial chairman of the Police Federation Rohan James — two unrelated issues.

I found this very distasteful. He has never been the best at weighing in on issues which require emotional intelligence. Therefore, Bunting needs to get himself some advisors.

May Jamila’s soul rest in peace and be free from the partisan bickering and culture of political one-upmanship which Bunting’s press release seemed unable to resist.

Jean Clarke

jeanclarke111@yahoo.com