Dear Editor,

I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen and minister of religion in our beloved country of Jamaica.

It is with a heavy heart that I address the prevalent issues of crime, corruption, and cronyism that have infiltrated every sector of our society. As a nation we cannot continue to disregard these issues that are poisoning the very fabric of our society.

The
Bible teaches us in Proverbs 29:2 that, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” The wicked are ruling in many aspects of our society, causing the people to groan under the weight of crime and corruption. It is time for all well-thinking Jamaicans to stand up for truth, justice, and righteousness across the length and breadth of our nation.

Crime has become a pervasive problem in Jamaica, with high rates of violence, murder, and theft plaguing our communities. The fear and insecurity that this brings to our citizens is unacceptable, and we must take a stand against it. Corruption and cronyism have also seeped into various sectors of our society, hindering progress and development. It is disheartening to see individuals in positions of power using their influence for personal gain rather than for the betterment of our nation.

As a citizen of my beloved country, I must call on all Jamaicans to uphold the values of truth, justice, and righteousness. These are not just lofty ideals but essential principles that should guide our actions and decisions. We must hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions and work towards creating a society that is fair and just for all.

It is time for us to come together as a nation and demand accountability from our leaders and institutions. We must not tolerate the abuse of power and the exploitation of our resources for personal gain; instead, we must strive to create a society in which honesty, integrity, and fairness are upheld at all levels.

I urge all Jamaicans to take a stand against crime, corruption, and cronyism. This is not a task that can be left to a few but requires the collective effort of every citizen. We must be vigilant in holding our leaders accountable and in promoting transparency and integrity in all sectors of our society.

I call on all well-thinking Jamaicans to heed the words of Micah 6:8 which states, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. Moreover, what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Let us strive to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly as we work towards a Jamaica that is free from crime, corruption, and cronyism.

Ryan Reddie

Minister of religion

ryanreddie33@gmail.com