The flip side of crime fighting

Lloyd B Smith

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

In true Machiavellian style, the Bruce Golding administration has opted to rule by fear rather than by love. This must be good news to the many members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who see community policing as "soft" and would rather pursue the sledgehammer approach. In other words, even if it means burning down the house to get the rat, do it; even if it means smashing that expensive, one-of-a-kind vase in order to get rid of that damn, annoying fly, do it.

On the surface, crime fighting appears to be all about statistics and homicides so if there are fewer murders it becomes the norm to perceive that crime is down. Notwithstanding the fact that so many killings are never solved or resolved, be they committed by civilians or agents of the state, namely the police or military.

Notwithstanding the fact that other crimes such as robbery and rape may well be on the rise and the equally potent fact that many such crimes against the person are not reported and so do not form part of the official statistics which are often used to bring about some kind of balm in Gilead.

Currently, a new precedent has been set whereby it is now being posited that the best way to fight crime is by instituting a State of Emergency. Supporters of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party cry down anyone who dares to question this draconian approach to crime fighting, maintaining that it is working. But for how long, one may ask?

Let me hasten to assert that I do believe that a State of Emergency did become necessary at the outset given the irrefutable fact that persons allegedly loyal to Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke had launched an attack against the state, including the burning down of police stations and the killing of law enforcement officers. But if a State of Emergency is to remain legitimate, then it ought not to be prolonged indefinitely.

Also, it must not be seen as a means of fighting crime regularly. Yes, we all know that the country was literally under siege by criminal elements and that the murder rate was getting out of control, especially in troubled areas such as Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St James. Something had to be done. Something drastic and far-reaching was necessary and the people were demanding it, many declaring that they were prepared to cede some of their human and constitutional rights in the process.

Well, the Dudus extradition affair presented the Golding regime with the raison d'etre to pursue that path, and the rest is history. "Crime is down," has now become the new mantra for the relieved as well as narrow partisan hacks of the JLP who are over-anxious to boost the image of their baggage-ridden leader Bruce Golding.

The obverse of all this, of course, is that there have been numerous reports of human rights violations and acts of police brutality. And to add further salt to the wound, a number of the highly touted crime bills are said to have infringed on the constitutional rights of citizens. This is a tightrope walk for the Golding administration as crime has been the foremost problem on the minds of most Jamaicans. Against this background, any individual or organisation seen as "anti what" and being pursued by way of the State of Emergency and crime bills is deemed an enemy of the State.

In this context, human rights groups such as Jamaicans For Justice led by Dr Carolyn Gomes and Families Against State Terrorism led by Yvonne McCalla-Sobers are being vilified and ridiculed as defenders of criminals. Sections of the media, especially some talk-show hosts who are simply carrying out their duties as the people's watchdog have been pilloried primarily by over-zealous Labourites who see the present crime-fighting scenario as increasing the favourability of their party.

The Opposition People's National Party has also come in for its share of harsh criticisms for having dared to question or rap certain aspects of the crime bills and the prolonged use of the State of Emergency, as if this is not part of its role and function as Her Majesty's loyal opposition, so sworn to do.

This high level of intolerance instigated by those who want everyone to fall in line and thus become robotic is not good or healthy for our democratic way of life. There must always be checks and balances in which case dissent has its place in the scheme of things if we are not to head, wittingly or unwittingly, in the direction of becoming a police state.

Interestingly, even as detractors attack JFJ and FAST because of their stance (and I say more power to them), one notices with concern that Contractor General Mr Greg Christie has also been placed in the spotlight and is being lined up against the wall to face the verbal firing squad of those who are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with his no-holds-barred style in carrying out his duties.

It must be noted that even while the security forces continue their onslaught against crime and violence, not one politician of note has become a person of interest. It is no secret, too, that blue-collar and white-collar crime is rampant in the Jamaican society, yet very few perpetrators are being apprehended and imprisoned.

In real terms, it is just one class of Jamaicans that are being seen as criminals, miscreants and deviants. This is a most discombobulating situation because it goes to the heart of what the JLP itself has mouthed and sung for years - equal rights and justice. What a bitter irony!

The flip side of crime fighting is that while the cancer is being surgically removed there is much collateral damage that may well kill the patient. And even when it is felt that most of the cancer cells have been destroyed there will be enough remaining to cause recidivism.

So while we commend the police and soldiers for a job well done so far, let us not forget that crime fighting goes beyond guns and bullets, cordons and searches, curfews and indefinite detention. It behoves any government that is self-respecting to bring a little love into the picture by way of social and economic interventions. Perhaps what we need, therefore, is not a police state but a benevolent dictator?

lloydbsmith@hotmail.com

Do you feel buying into Facebook now is a good investment for the long-run?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

The flip side of crime fighting