A story in Monday's STAR again brought to the fore the high murder rate that is currently plaguing the island.

The headline read 'Seven killed in two days'. This means that seven people's lives have ended because of a decision taken by someone who have decided that it was better if that individual was no longer alive.

We cannot continue like this in Jamaica. Frankly we have been allowing gunmen to rule over the country and determined who is allowed to live or die.

Jamaica has no future if criminals become the government. We have no future if gunmen become the ones in charge and at the rate we are going the country is certainly going to end up there.

The thing that has always been Jamaica's problem is our reluctance to do anything about our situation. We hold marches, we pray, we cry out but we do not act in a forceful and strong way.

Those persons who know those responsible for the crimes remain mum and become slaves to the criminals who are literally black mailing them by forcing them to be silent.

It is clear we cannot go on like this. Jamaica is heading down a one way road to destruction and if we do nothing soon the island will become one filled with criminals and problems and some where that no one wants to live or visit. If we are going to save our beautiful island then we need to stop talking and start acting.