The lead story in Tuesday's STAR was indeed quite hilarious.

According to the story, residents of a community in Bull Bay, St Thomas, have been plagued by an annoying and daring mongoose that seemingly knows no boundaries or has no fears.

The residents said the animal made its way into their homes at odd hours and did not even flinch when chased.

What is perhaps the most interesting element of this story, however, is the fact that some elderly residents believe the animal has a specific purpose. The residents believe the animal was sent there for someone specific, hence its curious mode of operation. Such a belief, however, just goes to show that superstitions are still very much a part of Jamaican life. Although our society has been bombarded by foreign lifestyles, it is clear that many of our traditions still hold relevance in our society.

While some may view this as a sign that many people are still backward and primitive in their thinking, we must realise that these things form a big part of our culture and we should therefore appreciate the fact that at least some of our traditions are surviving in the modern world.

Whether this mongoose is evil or not, we have no idea. What we do know, however, is that belief 'kills and cures', and it is up to these residents to make what they wish of their situation.