Make 2010 – “YEAR AGAINST CRIME”

It was simply a sickening sight to watch two popular promoters of violence, lewdness and crudity parading at a press conference put on by Jamaica House. Their sardonic laughter as they knocked head was painful to the ears. What is even more hurtful is that our leaders felt they were doing a good thing by having a high profile meeting with these two entertainers. Taxpayers are groaning understanding fully well that this whole charade redound more to the benefit of the two men than to the nation. Our leaders have wasted taxpayers time and money in giving free national promotion to these men.

I felt deep sympathy for Daryl Vaz as he was saddled with the responsibility to outline the plan of action going forward to deal with the Gaza – Gully war. The plans are at best well intentioned but very juvenile and more of a ban aid than a cure. If the situation were not so serious I would have burst out laughing. Our politicians have been taken for a ride that they had to pay for and also do the driving and the conducting.
The Gaza-Gully issue points to some bigger challenges that confront us as a nation. I am not getting this sense from our leaders that they know what to do or are willing to do what is necessary. We have heard it time and time again that the response to Jamaica’s crime problem must be multi-dimensional. We have to view the crime problem through social, moral, economic and spiritual lenses. We therefore need resources but more than anything else leadership with courage, character and creativity.
Here are some suggestions to the Prime Minister:
1. Declare January to December of 2010 as “Year Against Crime”
2. Have members of civil society along with politicians from both sides to lead the process.
3. Decide on some achievable targets and make these known to the nation.
4. Fast track supporting legislation through Parliament.
5. Pull resources and expertise from other jurisdiction which had the same crime problems as we have but have made tremendous progress in taming this two headed monster called crime and violence. .
6. Select communities in Kingston, Mobay and May Pen that are breeding ground for crime and have deliberate and sustained social and economic interventions.
7. Intensify the media campaign against crime and violence. Get the three wealthy telecommunications companies to lead in this campaign both in design and sponsorship.
8. Ask religious groups to broaden their community involvement and their proclamation of the Gospel during this year.
9. Have a zero tolerance approach to law breakers including traffic violations, petty crime, domestic violence, police bribery and drug offences.
10. Make the law a shackle in 2010.
We need leadership for this to happen. We cannot look to the Gaza and Gully crews to take us out of the gutter we are in. Every politician, religious leader, police, business leader must talk tough against crime and support out talk with our walk. It is now or never. We must act or continue to die.