PM urges G8 to treat crime as a development issue

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

PRIME Minister Bruce Golding has appealed to G8 countries for greater assistance to countries like Jamaica in the fight against organised crime.

According to Golding, this assistance must be broad-based and must recognise that rooting out crime is not just a law enforcement exercise but a major development issue.

Golding was speaking in Muskoka, Canada at a special outreach session of the G8 Summit last Friday.

He called attention to the penetrative and corrosive effect of crime in struggling developing countries with weak institutional capacity and a scarcity of resources. He also outlined the measures being carried out by his administration in its renewed campaign to combat crime and declared that it was determined to use every tool in its toolbox in an all-out effort that must be sustained until the job is completed.

However, he said that countries like Jamaica cannot do it alone, given their lack of resources and the transnational nature of organised crime.

While acknowledging the assistance being provided by the US, UK, Canada and EU, he said that a more comprehensive strategy must be developed as a matter of urgency. This must include greater effort to disrupt the flow of drugs with equal emphasis being placed on both the supply and demand side of the drug trade.

He also called for more effective measures to stem the flow of illegal guns which were not only the symbol and tool of organised crime but filtered into the hands of itinerant criminals.

Golding also appealed for more technical assistance in criminal investigation, intelligence management and law enforcement techniques and cautioned that crime does not exist in a vacuum but thrives in an environment where poverty is prevalent and hope and opportunity are depressed.

Countries like Jamaica, he said, which have been battered by the global recession have had to contain expenditure on critical social programmes and find themselves fighting crime at a time when the material conditions are more favourable for crime to flourish.

He welcomed the additional resources provided by G20 countries through the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral agencies but pointed out that the conditions for accessing these funds require deflationary fiscal and monetary policies that left beneficiary countries with no room to effectively address the development dimension of the fight against crime.

He urged the international community to help countries like Jamaica to find more creative ways to deal with these challenges, even while undertaking the adjustments necessary to put their economies in good health.

"When we go into communities and dismantle the criminal organisations that are embedded there, we leave a huge space which, if not quickly filled by meaningful programmes that empower people, provide training and jobs, create opportunities and offer hope, will shortly thereafter be filled by a new, smarter generation of criminals," said Golding. "The kind of social intervention that is needed requires resources that we don't have. We need your help... lots of help", Golding said.

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COMMENTS (26)

Stanley Palmer
6/29/2010

There are many Jamaicans of whatever party who think that Golding wants to be an outstanding PM, and that it is in our best interests to afford him that opportunity. After all, there is still more elections to come.
Much more prosperous countries than ours are now, and have been, begging.

d crosdale
6/29/2010

I am so sick and tired of these people who see everyrhing through their narrow political lens. I am in full support of the pm on his new focus on fighting crime. In the past I have been critical but at least he is now trying to do something.
I have taken the Mandela approach of forgiveness towards the pm and gov. I wish I had resources to help. I hope to play my part when I move back home in a few years.
Keep up the fight sir.

Paul Gentles
6/29/2010

Particularly after that Manat fiasco which exposed benign growth in the govt. a strong signal that we are turning a page on governance that contributes in no small order to the facilitation of corruption and "dons" would be the resignation of the PM along with those embroiled and putting a new face to represent a new image - then one can respectfully ask for assistance.@Chuck Emanuel - you are bang on the money!

John Smith
6/29/2010

I cringe to see him there representing Jamaica on the international scene - begging money - after what an international audience witnessed just a few weeks ago, learning of its nine month history. JLP should have replaced him, sorry. I do have some shame. Proud to be Jamaican, but ashamed of Brute. Bruce did mus feel shame too... Him caan so arrogant. Then again he's still PM and is being stoutly defended by some as we can see with this comment board so really he must be congratulating himself.

Real Jamaican
6/29/2010

Carl Ricketts is so right we are all Jamaicans facing this crime problem instead of trying to oppose and tear down let us enter a new era in which we start working together against crime. This new thrust by the security forces is a great start lets all play our part.

Christine Crooks
6/29/2010

If I was the PM, I would feel really ashamed to be representing jamaica after putting the country through the mess that we are now in

Wharf Dawg
6/29/2010

If the Prime Minister doesn't know it he ought to by now. The USA recently announced $124M in help for the Caribbean region while Sec Clinton was in Barbados. His speech would have earn him more respect had he announced that his govt. would be leading the way in the fight against corruption. The only reason why crime is so high in Jamaica is because of the Corruption in Parliament and Business. This sends a signal to thugs that they too can be less than saintly in their actions.

shatta links
6/29/2010

You all need to stop looking at the issues from a politcal party stand point and start looking at it from a BETTER JAMAICA point of view. Unfortunately we have some corrupt people in our parliment, but we need change in Jamaica, and sometimes when a corrupt man hand is forced(Bruce) they have to run with the change! Change as started in JA and we are at phase one of the process. So let's take it one step at a time get rid of the criminal elements, then we clean house and initiate law and order!

Evan Archer
6/29/2010

The PM is great with words. He needs help to convert those to action !!

carl ricketts
6/29/2010

I find myself shaking my head reading the comments on here. One question I want to ask is this! what do you people read and where do you get your info from? every deveolping country has major crime probs. Think of central & south america, the former states of the USSR, Africa, the middle east. and the list goes on. Please educate yourselves and be informed before you make a darn fool of yourselves.The PM is doing a great Job. We need to move forward not backward, that's whts wrong with JA. 2 neg

John Martin
6/29/2010

England has the resources, provided the resources, provides the resources to overseas territories ... so why did Jamaica opt for independence to now go begging for resources. Not only is it silly to now be begging, it's downright shameful!

Rose Patterson
6/29/2010

Boy Mr. Golding, I would not want to be you right now. If you breathe, it's criticized. I can't wait until PNP gets voted back in because I want to see, other than spending the people’s money and shredding the evidence, what they are going to do better. I wish Jamaica did not give up it's independence. It hurt us more than it helped

chad williams
6/29/2010

I believe jamaica needs a type of affirmative action where companies have to hire a people from these garrison..well hire them to get tax breaks and grants..so they have to hire a certain amount to qualify

Beresford Davidson
6/29/2010

At this level of the discussion for normalization, poverty must be addressed by recognizing and fighting evil, therein after solve crime. Nobody not going to bed until peace and harmony engulf us.

A. Croft
6/29/2010

If the they do get the resources will it be properly allocated? Who will manage it and how will it get to where it is needed without first being divided among a small gorup of beneficiaries?
I would suggest that the money be given to organizations that have presented a plan for it's use. A plan that reflects the development for the people whom it is intended to serve. Also it should be closely monitored by accountants - if they get it.

Theresa Ritchie
6/29/2010

@ chuck emanuel... the pm is really trying, so if u dont have anything good to say, be quiet....

Devon T
6/29/2010

Whilst i agree with Chuck, this matter should be look at in a broader sense. If a chid from tivoli do well in school and the employers turn him/her away then unless these "alleged criminals" get their contracts and provide some means of employment then what can we suggest for our children? I am not saying that criminals should be given shield and contrcts but..the other side matters. If we are genuine about bringing Jamaica back then maybe we should start with ourselves... stop hating each other

Flydude86 Flydude86
6/29/2010

This Prime Minister should not representing Jamaica on the International scene. He is the reason why over 70 people lost their lives. He needs to be impeached and sent to prison.

otis grant
6/29/2010

all di cuss people a cuss bruce mi jus a imagine portia siddung deh so beside obama an dem a ask her couple question. how she woulda ansa without no speechwriter? or maybe sghe woulda send peter phillips or bunting?

wayne lyn
6/29/2010

@Chuck, good points, I guess he must be thinking that he has started doing that now so he is aksing for a little money to help in his effort, let's give him a little more time we have to start from somewhere and for now he's what we've got.

Al Vance
6/29/2010

Sure would love to know what Obama is thinking at that moment. Good bye Mr Golding.

Dennis ( The Bench )
6/29/2010

This is bare face hypocrisy! Unbelievable! My God PM have you no shame?

David Armstrong
6/29/2010

The problem of crime in Jamaica is not due to the lack of external help or resources. It is due primarily to the lack of initiative to dismantle the garrison constituencies that the politicians benefit from. Jamaica's political leaders must dismantle the garrison constituencies if they really want to control crime. A good start in this area is to implement constitutional changes that will impeach public officials who are associated with criminal entities in these garrison constituencies.

froggy D
6/29/2010

I wish that the PM would stop going to these countries and giving that lame excuse about crime being a developmental issue. Of course crime come with development, but not this sort of a way and in this magnitude, or else all developing countries would have similar statistic like Jamaica; they don't. PM, you are begging and that is not working. May be if you look inward, you would see the solutions, but you do not want make the changes. You put band aid on the problem, and beg.

Nicolas Henry
6/29/2010

Bruce you are so right. In my opinion developed countries got that way because of resources taken cheaply from under devoped countries. As Gadafi once said at a UN genral assembly, "The people flock to the countries where their resources went". Realistically, every country in the world will never enjoy the standard of living like the USA. For one to be poor, someone must be rich. I think it was meant be. Let's all seek a brighter future in heaven for our souls. Still we do need better in JA

Chuck Emanuel
6/29/2010

So, if we continue to give contracts to criminals, aid and abet them, not hold corrupt "Party members" and ministers of government accountable, and lie to the country, what signal does this send in terms of criminality and corruption ?.
Why would other countries provide their "resources" to a corrupt state ?.
Heal thyself !

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PM urges G8 to treat crime as a development issue