The Editor, Sir:

We are impotent! Yes we are. God is omnipotent. We are beset by all manner of occurrences, which are sending shock waves through us. Many are losing heart because of fear.

The finger-pointing has become an active pastime:

Opposition to Government given that there exists a roadmap to security prepared by

Government when it was in Opposition.

Government to Opposition given that there can be no honest claim, on their part, of putting a lid, however light, on crime.

Citizens to Government and police.

Opinion makers, talk-show hosts to Government and Opposition.

Police to gangs and citizens who are deemed to be shielding the criminals.

We do not have the answer

The seeming upsurge of kidnapping, raping and killing of women and children has left some of us numb. The predicament in which we find ourselves is due to our fancying ourselves as persons capable of finding a solution, yet not admitting that we are failing as we of ourselves do not have the answer. Our perceived strength is total weakness and our perceived wisdom is often ill-directed.

We must acknowledge that whatever we, as a country or individually, have been able to achieve has been so, only, because God has enabled us so to do.

Have we not seen the financial fall-out which has occurred among the great powers of the world? Where is their greatness? It seems to have dissipated. May we learn from it!

Self-examination

What is necessary? Each member of the citizenry of Jamaica, beginning from the governor general, PNP, JLP and no P, needs to examine him self, seeing himself as God sees him - sinful. In humility we all need to confess and repent, freeing ourselves of the weight, whether it is overcharging, double-mindedness, pride, hypocrisy, we must seek God's assistance to deal with this matter.

I have deliberately not focused on the Church which has had its fair share of finger-pointing, but rather on us as individuals as we make up the Church, not the building!

We are fighting a losing battle if we think we can do anything about what is happening without seeking God's help.

Who will take the lead?

I am, etc.,

VERLA SEYMOUR

PO Box 744

Kingston 8