Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

CITING A chronic decay and departure from traditional norms and standards and a breakdown in community and family in Jamaica, Opposition Senator Sandrea Falconer has called for a moral revolution.

Pointing to a vicious cycle of violence, corruption and growing frustration, felt by those who are victims of poverty and social neglect, the Opposition senator submitted several recommendations to address some of the nation's problems.

In her maiden contribution on Friday to the State of the Nation debate in the Upper House, Senator Falconer dismissed the notion that inner-city communities were the major source of the problems facing the country.

"They are in fact a symptom of the problem," she argued.

State's failure

She contended that if these communities had developed a parallel culture with their own security mechanisms, an economic stream of financial resources and a system of mentoring their youth into a culture of violence, then the state should not escape blame for its failure to provide for their well-being and security.

The dismantling of the garrison culture and other ills of the society such as teen pregnancies, incest, prostitution and child labour, must be tacked as moral issues, said Falconer.

"We need a moral revolution in marriage, domestic unions and family living," Falconer insisted, adding, "We cannot be targeting the proverbial inner-city communities alone."

She said that the quality of family life and family bonding was not much better in the more privileged upscale communities than in the less-regarded ones.

Senator Falconer commended the prime minister and opposition leader for their swift rejection of the recent proposal for the Government to tax prostitutes as a legitimate source of revenue.

"It is disgusting that at atime when we are grappling with major social problems such as HIV/AIDS, that anyone should be advocating prostitution as one of the answers to the country's revenue shortfall," she said.

Falconer's recommendations

Conduct nationwide dialogue on issues of moral importance led by the church, judiciary, security forces, politicians and the media.

Provide real options for change and upliftment in depressed communities.

Expand initiatives such as conflict-resolution programmes.

Establish a help line for children who are in trouble or are being abused to call trained persons for help.

Correct imbalances in the management and distribution of economic resources and public services.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com