A 10-year-old contestant in the 2007/2008 Mini Miss Jamaica contest has written to Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller urging them to create a peaceful and safe Jamaica.

In her letter written on behalf of the other 11 contestants, none of whom are older than 10, Tashay Myers asked both leaders to "Please find a way to let the gunmen know that they are loved and can find better ways of living than to kill and hurt people."

Added Tashay: "One day when I was watching the news, I heard of a little girl who died after she was crying for help while her house was being burnt. I felt so sad, I could not eat for two days. That is why the contestants and I are asking you to help us as the leader of our country, Jamaica."

Golding received his copy of the letter on December 11 when the contestants visited Gordon House, where they met other parliamentarians.

The contestants were delighted at meeting the prime minister, and after taking pictures with him, presented Information Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange with a copy of the letter.



The letter ends with a prayer for both Golding and Simpson Miller.

Here is an edited text of the letter:

My name is Tashay Myers, and I am a contestant in the Mini Miss Jamaica 2007 contest. I am writing you this letter on behalf of myself and the other contestants.

I do not like the way crime and violence affect me and other people in my country. Children are afraid that they all will be killed. Please do something to stop the crime in Jamaica.

When children's parents are killed by violence it affects them greatly. If my parents are killed, I would be terrified and probably do nothing again for the rest of my childhood years.

One day when I was watching the news, I heard of a little girl who died after she was crying for help while her house was being burnt. I felt so sad, I could not eat for two days. That is why the contestants and I are asking you to help us as the leader of our country, Jamaica.

Please find a way to let the gunmen know that they are loved and can find better ways of living than to kill and hurt people. Please help us to stop the crime and violence, especially the indiscipline and killings in our schools.

We want a peaceful and safe Jamaica like back in the days [when], my grandparents told me, that when they were young, people used to sleep with their doors open. We need Jamaica to return to those days.

Thank you, please respond.
Yours sincerely,
Tashay Myers

Attached is a prayer for our leaders and the signatures of the Mini Miss Jamaica 2007 contestants.

Prayer: For our leaders we will pray and ask that they will choose thy way, for only as they honour thee will our beloved land stay free.

Contestants' signature and age:
Name Age
Tashay Myers 10 years old
Devina Bowes 7 years old
Shadae Miller 10 years old
Rockeisha S Allen 9 years old
Aaliyah Young 10 years old
Brittaney Clarke 7 years old
Brittanya Robinson 9 years old
J'Nai Peart 9 years old
Jamila Scott 9 years old
Camille Johnson 7 years old
Gabriel Bewry 9 years old
Ashley Butler 9 years old