The crime problem is a massive one for Jamaica and I know that we all have several suggestions to change this ill in our nation. We talk about creating more jobs, educating parents, cutting the teenage birth rate, dealing with the issues of our communities, and creating more activities for our youth. My element of transformation for today is the introduction of conflict resolution into our educational system.

It is obvious to me that our ability to communicate and deal with conflicts, as a people, is lagging. Maybe I can revert to our history and conclude that we are a warrior people and, as a result, we think of a clash, melee, ruckus, riot, or all-out war before we think about resolving things in an amicable manner. Technically, if we can't get what we want, we feel we have a right to fight for it, and that is, admissibly, Jamaican.

Intervention needed

However, there have been times when others have stepped in to bring resolution either through a union, ombudsman, politician or even pastor, but the need for individual ability to resolve conflicts is becoming more evident.

When children start stabbing each other in schools, and men murder each other in communities because of broken relationships, when bus conductors get stabbed for $50 or Jamaicans lose their lives over an argument about $500, there is evidence that our leaders need to step in and do something different. We need, at this time, to teach our people that a fight is not the only way out. We must teach them to resolve the matter without bringing harm to each other.

I recommend that we take the teaching of conflict resolution to our schools immediately. Begin now to find the lessons that we can introduce into our primary and high-school systems by 2010 or 2011. If we can start this process now by teaching juniors at an early age, we will then begin a process of change that will complement the government's 2030 plan. I guarantee that our domestic-related murders will decrease by that year if our primary and high-school students learn from now to resolve their conflicts in a good and peaceful way.

I am, etc.,

REV HERRO BLAIR JR

herroblair@yahoo.com

Jamaica Youth for Christ

2 Acacia Ave

Kingston 5