I have been reflecting on the recent comments made three members of the Jamaican clergy on the capital punishment debate. Rev. Ronald Blair in his usual conservative and measured style called on the Government of Jamaica to activate the law and start hanging convicted murderers again. He genuinely believes that this will act as a deterrent to future murders. Rev. Clement Brown, the past President of the Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal went even further than Bishop Blair and out of obvious frustration over the crime situation and the government's apparent tardiness, offered himself to be the hangman. One has to wonder how he would in his duty as clergy prepare the person for death, kill him and them do the last rites? Just wondering aloud!
It is the comments of the very outspoken Fellowship Tabernacle Pastor, the Rev. Al Miller that have not only raised the most eyebrows but have has caused puffs of smoke to come from the ears and noses of some in the society. In displaying a high level of intolerance to opposing views Miller categorizes those who believe that capital punishment will not act as a deterrent to crime as been “dunce”, in fact, “very dunce”, he says. I believe that all well thinking Jamaicans share the frustration of these men of the cloth even though there may be disagreement over the prescription for this state of chronic that we find ourselves in. To say that Jamaica's murder rate is too high is a gross understatement. To be ranked in the top twenty in the world as it relates to murder is most undesirable but to be fighting for the number one spot is earth shattering and ill-omened. Everybody is searching for an answer. My problem with the recommendation given by the clergy men is that it further deepens the culture of death in this country. Already communities are taking the law in their own hands and brutally killing captured thieves out of the frustration that the justice system moves too slow and in some cases has ground to a halt. With a thirst for blood and a justice system that is corrupt, poorly staffed and dilapidated one wonders about the wisdom of introducing capital punishment in this context. Responding to murder by killing four persons every year will not in my mind counter the death culture in this country. When we speak with many of the young men from communities where crime and violence are on the rise they often tell you that "mi dead aready". They have no future orientation. They have seen death around them and have resigned themselves to the reality that they will not live as long as Jesus. The threat of punishment by death is nothing new to young men who live on the edge everyday. Their argument is "before you can hang me you have to catch me". Many are confident that they have the fire power to outgun the police, the brain power to outsmart them and the money to buy them.
What then is the answer?? There is no one answer. There is no one sector that can solve the problem. This is not a political issue it is a survival issue. It is an issue that has implication for the generations to come. Here are seven simple suggestions that I posit:
1. Dust off all the crime plans that have been presented over the past ten years and see where they converge in terms of causes, effects and solutions.
2. Establish a national action team that consists of well thinking Jamaican citizens from all sectors of the society to give leadership to a national two year campaign to reduce crime by 50%.
3. Ensure that there is budgetary allocation to ensure that the police force is adequately manned, well equipped and well paid.
4. Target all crime ridden communities for development. Give business persons major tax breaks and other incentives to invest in these communities.
5. Have a zero tolerance approach to all crimes, from major to minor.
6. Strengthen the Youth Service Programme and give support to groups and associations that have a focus on helping young men between the ages of 12 and 21.
7. Challenge the church to lead the battle on the spiritual front, engaging in sustained ecumenical functional partnerships to rescue communities through prayer, capacity building, and the giving of hope to families.
I am convinced that capital punishment is not the answer. I would rather volunteer myself to be a lifegiver than a hangman. Though I may sound dunce I still believe that threatening to hang murderers will not lessen crime in this context. It will take more. Simply having more legislation passed is not the answer since those already on the books are not been enforced.
One of the critical element that is needed in all of this is leadership. Leadership that is analytic, practical, tough, selfless and just. Who will lead this SAVE JAMAICA CAMPAIGN???
4 comments:
With all respect to you sir and with total agreement to your 7 point plan to reduce crime, i must share with you my view con capital punishment.
Whilst i don't fully agree with capital punishment being used for a deterent for crime (though there is evidence to support this), i am in support of capital punishment as a means of upholding the law.
What do i mean by that you ask? Well if the law of the land dictates that if you are conviced of first degree murder then the punishment is to be death by hanging or whatever means then i believe that the law should be upheld.
This is a priniciple that is duly supported by scripture with clear instructions giving for governments and laws to be respected and applied to all.
I would want to think that Christ showed us that the law of the land is foremost when he suffer capital punishment for the crime he was founded guilty of committing. Yes we all know he was innocent, however it is recorded that he suffered the punishment for the crime he was charged for.
Will innocent persons suffer, yes they might, just like our Saviour did; and i agree that our court system needs revamping, however we need to recognize that the law of the land is the supreme appointment of GOD.
Where the Romans judged by God executing there law? You can answer that question better than i can but from the little i know, Christ himself made it known to there was no sin commited by the Romans.
In closing i would want to suggest that in some cases capital punishment might indeed serve as a deterent for criminals because as reported ib the Sunday Gleaner or just over a year or so ago many of our most wanted men when causght by the police turned out to be big cowards without their guns resulting in quite a few wetting them self and some even decating on themselves.
Those are my few words in Jesus' name. God bless you
I agree with malik. If conviction of 1st degree murder is punishable by death by hanging, then this should be enforced, if not, then the state should seek to amend this law.
Failure to impose the death penalty could serve to encourage lawbreakers to continue to break the law. Could it be that in some way failure to impose the death penalty reflects some of the reasons why lawlesness is so prevalent in our country - it is believed that our laws have gone soft and lawbreakers can get away with breaking the law.
Our Saviour by example encourages us to have mercy however He judges unrighteousness hence He provides justification for our sins but make no mistake, anyone who does not accept His grace will suffer the extent of His wrath.
Just my thoughts.
My Friend:
This is another intriguing post. As I expected, you have come off the fence on the side of those who are against capital punishment. Your perspectives have been well articulated. Indeed, you have made a good arugument for being a lifegiver rather than a hangman.
I choose to sit on the fence on this one, although I see myself as a life-preserver. I must state that I am troubled that you have not emphasized the rights of the victim of homicide to justice and the horrific darkness that loved ones' go through in dealing with the reality of such terrible and tragic loss.
Although I am a life-preserver, I wonder whether there isn't a reasonable justification for the existence and role of the hangman!!!!!
Yes, I would also rather be a lifegiver than a hangman. Jean
Post a Comment