The monument erected at the corner of Church and Tower streets, downtown Kingston, in memory of the large number of children murdered in Jamaica has been attracting a large number of spectators daily.

But many of the spectators are angry that the children were murdered under such vicious circumstances and have been voicing their disappointment.

Some have been saying that anyone found guilty of committing such heinous crimes on children must be hanged.

"I did not know that so many children were murdered in Jamaica," a woman remarked as she carefully read the names of the children which were engraved on the monument.

"Well, I must thank Mayor Desmond McKenzie and Prime Minister Bruce Golding who saw the need to highlight the situation," the woman added.

The monument was erected in memory of the children who were killed under violent or tragic circumstances.

"Worthless and wicked men are killing the poor children and they must be hanged," a woman who said she was the mother of five young children remarked. She said she did not send her children alone on the street because she did not want anyone to kidnap and murder them.

Out of hand

"But Jamaica really getting out of hand when men kidnap young children, rape them and then kill them," another woman said.

"I hear an argument the other day that it is men with aids and all kinds of other diseases they get through sleeping around with all kinds of women who were doing these wicked acts to the children," a woman remarked. She said some of the men believed that if they have sexual intercourse with young girls, they will be cured.

In response to her comment, a woman who was standing beside her said "remember boys are also being sexually molested and killed". The woman said further that there should be more public education programmes to educate the men that they should seek medical attention because having sex with young girls cannot cure their diseases.

"Well, it is my view that all men who rape and kill young girls must be hanged because there are big women who will have sex with men for as small as $100 or even for free," the woman said.

The women making the comments must be happy to know that this week parliamentarians voted in favour of retaining the death penalty.

Although no hanging took place in Jamaica for the last 20 years, the Offences against the Person Act states that murder committed in certain circumstances can attract the death sentence.