Dear Jasmine

I’m sorry we didn’t protect you enough. We live in a country where a lot of basic needs for citizens are not considered, let alone that of special needs. I hope you can forgive us, but if you can’t, I understand. As a people we have long been desensitized to cruel and inhumane treatment, but it didn’t start there. You see Jasmine, our country’s social depravity started when we turned a blind eye to ‘simple offenses’. It started the moment we began to ‘give a bly’ to those that thought they were bigger than the law or the process. It started the first time a child was kidnapped and it became only a “9 day wonder” with no real call for justice. We didn’t care, because it didn’t happen us.

I’m writing this because for the first time in a long time, a story like this rests heavily on my mind. Jasmine when I first learned about you missing, my heart instantly broke. I thought back to the countless stories I’ve heard about that mostly involved children and women going missing (often times turning up dead) and I can’t recall any of them weighing me down this heavily. It is that kind of desensitization I referred to and I recognize that I am also a part of the problem.

It’s been 9 days since you were first reported missing and your father is distraught. I watched an interview with him and felt his pain deep within my soul. Jasmine, your dad loves you to the end of the earth and back…but I bet you already knew that. You see Jasmine, your dad trusted in a system that promised to take care of the disenfranchised and most vulnerable among us, yet he still made sure to do all that he could to protect you and help you to fulfill your absolute potential. This was not his fault.

We have already began to fear the worst. Our experience tells us that this has only one outcome, but I’m still holding on to the faintest hope. My wish is that you will one day be able to read this and know that we are sorry that we failed you as a country and as a people, that you deserved a lot better than you have endured throughout your whole life.

I also hope that this serves as a wake-up-call for our government and/or private sector and signals a call to action in collaborating and implementing much needed measures and infrastructure that will help special needs people function like normal members of our society.

To her captors, if you are reading this; for once, let’s not take this promising young woman’s life. Whatever has been done already, just please let her go. What you don’t know is that Jasmine was studying International Relations, for a second I want you to stop and think about the impact her future has on the world, our country and even you and your family. She’s worth more to this ungrateful world than you can even begin to fathom. Don’t let these words fall on deaf ears, please, just let her go.

Written By: Jason McPherson

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0 thoughts on “Dear Jasmine”

    1. Jason,Thank you for your words, you were able to verbalize my thoughts and feelings.
      I am angry and I wonder when the majority of Jamaicans will say, enough😡

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    2. O God it hurts so much Jason I wonder how much more can we take.
      Happy to see this Jason, keep excelling. Another proud son of BTCC.

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    1. You had me cried all over again when you said ..all the kids and woman gone missing this one.touch you hardest ..as a mother and a woman ..this one have me i cant eat or sleep me belly hurts as if she wad my own belly pain.. ..I prayed to God please if he never andwered any other prayer which i know he does am beghing God please semd home jadmine unhurt..please

      Pleadr God..😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

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  1. In this cruel country of ours we can only think the worst , my heart saddens at what Jamaica has come , I some time wonder if these criminals don’t have mothers , sisters or wives , please whoever has taken her and if she is still alive have mercy and let her go , one day this could be your little girl

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    1. I join with all who are hoping and praying for Jasmine to come home I really don’t want to think of the worse I’d like to stay hopeful
      Lord please hear all of us prayer for your daughter Jasmine who is missing and bring her back to us thank you Lord.

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      1. Dear God

        My stomach churns n heart pains as I read this n the comments

        God I ask u show up in this matter n help us get positive answers

        Can’t the government offer a reward cause Jamaicans love money

        The family can’t b shorts it do y not they step in with an award

        God I can’t control these tears that more stream down my face but u r at the control tower send help or perform your miracle note in Jesus Mighty Name s as I continue to give u the honor n the glory . Amen 😭😭😭😭

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  2. Erica Laing Johnson

    I am hoping and praying that Jasmine will be found unharmed. I just want her to be returned home, she’s special with alot to offer the world and Jamaica. I pray that her captors will never know peace if they harm her. I pray that they be tormented day and night until they surrender

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    1. If only the most high god we serve could leads us to her hiding place so that her father can have a peace of mind no weapon form against jasmine shall not prosper it been 10 day lord let it be ten days of miracle it pain my heart to see her family in agony and I know these person have kids ,mother ,sister so why take others people life god help our children’s

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  3. I’m reading this and crying at the same time. Don’t know why this society is so evil and wicked. They should be protecting her not hurting her. But there’s a God up above and this will not go unpunished. Still hoping they’ll find her ALIVE. In Jesus name.

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  4. My God I have a daughter and I can only imagine what her family must be going through.
    Lord I know you said in your words if we have faith nothing is impossible so here it goes…help the family and friends of this your daughter find her alive and in good health…Amen🙏🏽

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  5. Dear Lord, this is a simple prayer. You, who raised Lazarus from the dead specialize in things we humans, think and feel to be impossible. Please hear our cries and act, NOW, God. Send Gabriel and Michael and Jesus… Jasmine has cried. Her family knows not if she has died but You are even The Ressurecter and the miracle worker. Take her out and up and restore her to her life and loved ones. Hear me please and I thank You. Oh God, You are all we’ve got. Answer today and comfort and strengthen us all as we wait… Touch them now, by fire, who have taken her and confuse the enemy. Let them move to release and confess and repent in Jesus’ name, Thank You, Lord. Amen.

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  6. Reading these words my heart is heavy, because, what could possess this evil individual/s to take this young lady away, she was going about her business not bothering anyone, she thought she was safe as she had always been each day, and the devil got into this person took control of his evil ass, and he preyed upon this innocent and helpless young lady, dear God God please cover her safely with your blood, and let whoever has her, release her to her family. Amen.

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  7. I’m 21 and tears literally running from my eyes this is so sad 😭😭how can you kidnnap a blind girl oh lord have mercy upon her lord you know where she is we left our prayers in your hands❗️❗️🙏🏽

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  8. Laurel Ming-Morgan

    Thank you for your kind words to Jasmine. My heart is broken. I’m living in Canada but I keep abreast with what’s happening in Jamaica. I’m very troubled and angry. I’ve been teaching for 25 years and I’m privileged to have taught for 15 yrs in Jamaica. Here in Canada we take great care of people with special needs, especially in our schools and I wish I could echo that same sentiments about Jamaica Land We Love. Did they do a good search for Jasmine? Did they ask UWI students and others to do volunteer searches with the police? Who saw Jasmine that night? Please people, we need to find her.
    I pray!

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  9. Touching to the core. I pray she’s found unharmed, scratch free. I hope they can find it in their hearts to release her someplace safe👏👏👏👏

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  10. I live in Canada and have been following this story and my heart aches this is one too many of our young souls being taken away from their loved ones. Our communities in Jamaica need to come up with strategies to prevent these cruel acts from being repeated and catching the culprits responsible. My prayers that she be returned safely to her family. “Heartbroken parent”

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  11. Sharon Dallas Hardware

    I have a 22 year studying same place I am away working but the whole day my mind is fix on the missing girl because it could have been mine.i cry at night for her and beg God to do something because it hurts likes my own.i really want her to be safe I don’t want to think other wise but just pray and hope you the best

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  12. It’s really sad seeing such devastating events take place especially to us as women!! Its heartbreaking and painful to see another young and ambitious lady missing. I pray for her safe return and that those who did it will not escape the wrath of God.

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  13. Dear God,
    I pray that Jasmine will be returned home safely. Please touch the hearts of the ones responsible for her disappearance and grant them compassion so they will not harm her. Awaken their conscience dear Lord and let them release her. Strengthen the family dear Lord while they trust and hope for the best.
    Thank you Jesus!

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  14. Thank you,Jason. There she was with such vision and courage, pursuing her dreams and we are the ones who turned a blind eye.

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  15. This one hurts bad, I pray the good Lord our righteousness Father touch the hearts of the wicked and allow them to release her.

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  16. This’s heart, felt . Why are people so evil, don’t like hey believe in god? If you’re ready everyone concern, hope you have a heart, a good one too, I’m sure you have children, sisters,& , brothers, let alone a mom, should someone do this to your families, how would you feel, ps find it in your heart to stop & think, give her another chance in life, she’s an asset to society, she was trying to make the best out of life, don’t we need positive people like Her, to make this world a better place.

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  17. I’m living in Florida but from Jamaica and when I saw her info on Facebook that she was missing my heart bleeds as I’m a mother of 2 girls and I hold them near and dear to my heart. I’m so troubled knowing that she has yet to be found. Father God hear our cry. Hear her parents mourning and groaning. We need to get in sackcloth and ash and pray because Jesus will let these person(s) let her go without harm. Jesus please intervene on her father’s behalf. We love you Jasmine.

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  18. Oh Lord why has Jamaica become so violent? When I left its shores in 1965 whether you were a woman or a child, you were able to go about your business without any harm befalling you. The government need step up and protect the people from these criminals whom are hell bent on taking others lives because they feel they have a right. Let me tell them this you will have to give God an account one day. I pray for you Jasmine that these evil persons will release you so you can return to your loving family and friends.

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  19. I respect this article because you accept the part you play as a Jamaican resident. I too, have always felt that, not just the government and law enforcement, but also society have been quite passive about these abductions. But perhaps sitting from where I currently reside in the United States, if I was back in Jamaica I would probably be no different from you, not doing enough, feeling numb to these incidents having too became desensitized. I hope this one will finally be where the buck stops, even though the buck should’ve stopped well over a hundred cases ago and holds government accountable in an attempt to finally see effective responses; new decision and task force being created to actively hut and take down criminal entity. And finally, society should not be fooled believing only one party is to be blame, believing the other party will do any different, neither of the 2 main political parties have done enough, at this point all we can do is try and force whoever is incharge to do more.

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  20. I have 3 daughters and wouldn’t like nothing like this to happen to non of them from the first day I see this girl gone missing my heart got broken but if we all pray 🙏 God is an untime God n he will never leave us nor forsake us but praise be to God almighty may all who have hands 🙌 in this be punished

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  21. Please why is this happening so much in Jamaica. Jasmine is a family member and we need her home. What is being done about the daily disappearance of young girls where are they?
    and is the Jamaican government involved in all these disappearances?

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