THE brutal crime scenes in various countries of our region have inspired two very commendable initiatives in two member states of the Caribbean Community that currently have the worst ratings in murder and violent crimes -- Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Last week, as the murder toll climbed to an unprecedented 55 within the first two weeks of a new year in Jamaica, the top leaders of various Christian denominations felt compelled to publicly pour their hearts into an all-day prayer vigil at the National Arena in Kingston for an end to the killings and violence and for "peace and unity".
Across in Trinidad and Tobago, a 13-year-old girl, Choc' late Allen, courageously mounted a lone dawn-to-dusk fast vigil in front of the nation's main national library to proclaim her own grief over the escalating murders in her twin-island state.
On the first of her five-day fast of she quickly attracted the attention of Prime Minister Patrick Manning whose government is under severe criticisms for failure to bring under even reasonable control the criminal rampage with its daily murder toll.
Demonstrating a maturity and the articulation of views well beyond her tender age, the admirable Choc'late started her public fast with the desire for "a 100 per cent crime-free". It was quite an ambitious, if unrealistic goal in a crime-saturated society.
It moved editorial writers and social commentators to serenade the young teenager as a shining example in courage and commitment.
Alas, the murders and kidnappings keep occurring and citizens continue to cry out against the seeming inability of the combined forces of the police and army to achieve a respite.
In Jamaica, already saddled with the horrible reputation as the "murder capital" (on a per capita basis) of the Greater Caribbean, the media are echoing the pleas of the church leaders for a united front against criminality with particular focus on the daily blood-letting from murders, armed robberies and violence.
The prayers for healing, for an end to the criminal rampage across too many communities that started at the National Arena by Jamaica's church leaders, are continuing.
Those church leaders, like young iconic Choc'late, are hoping that more than their own country folks would join them in solidarity.
Well-funded and armed law enforcement agencies, possessed with very sophisticated anti-crime equipment and technologies, are revealing shocking failures to halt the frightening levels of criminality in too many CARICOM jurisdictions.
Therefore, the church leaders of Jamaica and precious young Choc'late of Trinidad and Tobago may be quite right in pointing to the kind of personal involvement they have demonstrated to appeal for an end to the murders, the criminal rampage, and to inspire hope for peace and unity.
Their fellow Caribbean citizens in this and other CARICOM states are challenged to also support their pleas.