One of the most troubling relationships which one can encounter is that of a marriage in which there has been a breakdown of trust. This breakdown of trust is usually precipitated by one or a combination of dynamics. These include the intrusion of a third party via an extra-marital affair, and abuse, which may take the form of controlling behaviour, outbursts of anger, or of a physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual nature. While these can be manifested by both sexes, it is generally the male who is the more frequent offender, causing the female to seek assistance in breaking the cycle of abuse or extricating herself from such a relationship.

What is usually very distressing about the experience is the failure or refusal of the offending party to see the seriousness of the situation. So, he usually tries to minimise the nature of his actions which led to the breakdown of trust, promises never to repeat the action(s), while showing little remorse for past actions, and requests of the offended party that the slate be wiped clean and the relationship be resumed. There seems to be little appreciation of the damage that has been done or sensitivity to the reticence of the offended, or even the fact that such overtures may be rejected outright. The suggestion that it will take time for the matter to be resolved is interpreted as “it will take time for the couple to get back home”. In one such situation in which I was involved, the offending gentleman simply got up out of his chair and attempted to lift his wife from the chair she was occupying in order to take her home, in spite of her protestations, thereby displaying the very behaviour which had brought them to the session in the first place.

The reality of life is that there are social relationships that are much more formal and make for the good ordering of society but which when violated, also lead to an undermining of trust, which can be difficult, if not impossible, to restore. These relationships include those between the electorate and the elected officials, between the public institutions and the people they serve, and between professionals and their clients, to name a few. To some extent, it is true that all of these institutions and persons depend on the maintenance of trust between themselves and the constituency they serve if they are to function effectively. So, for example, where people begin to lose confidence in the ability of the justice system to function effectively and deliver justice on a timely basis and with apparent equity and fairness, vigilante justice and other informal expressions of community justice begin to emerge, such as “ghetto justice” exercised by some “community dons” in Jamaica.

Over a number of years there seems to have been a breakdown of trust between one arm of the justice system – the police force – and the citizens. It is possible to trace some of this back to the very beginnings of the police force in Jamaica as an instrument of the status quo and not as an institution to serve the interest of the majority of the citizens of Jamaica. Most Jamaicans have no awareness of these early beginnings. What they are aware of, however, is the introduction of an era of crime-fighting that evolved with the Suppression of Crimes Act, which gave the police extra-ordinary powers that have never been fully reined in, thereby creating a generation of citizens, especially young men of less privileged circumstances, who have lost their trust in the police force.

In recent times some members of the police force have been exposed as being involved in activities which have compromised the integrity and reputation of the force, as well as undermined the trust of members of the society. There have been countless stories of police personnel being directly involved in the ownership of taxis and other public passenger vehicles which are allowed to violate the traffic laws with impunity and which have contributed to the indiscipline on the roads. There have been stories of off-duty police offering protection to the business operations of private citizens, which was a precursor to the evolution of the extortion racket which has now enveloped much of the island. The nation cannot forget the lotto scam activities that were being conducted in one of the police stations of Montego Bay.

When Assistant Commissioner Les Green made certain comments in the media about members of the police force being killed for reasons other than their involvement in legitimate policing activities, there were calls from within the ranks for his “head”. They saw in his comments a lack of respect for the members of the force, rather than an attempt to purge it of those who would bring it into disrepute. The truth of the matter is that what the assistant commissioner said was nothing new. The reality is that there is operative in this country an “informal system of communication” which is just as real as the “informal economy” and our “informal communities”, so the people on the ground know what is happening. The leaders of the nation can always make all kinds of pious speeches, and public and private institutions can issue all kinds of official statements, but people on the ground know the reality, and no amount of cosmetic work can cover it up. As a citizen of this country, I have never had a bad experience with a police officer, nevertheless when I walk on the streets of Montego Bay I see a level of animosity towards the police by citizens that is frightening.

As if that were not bad enough, we recently saw the seizure of a number of guns and ammunition in Eastern Kingston, one of the most volatile areas In Jamaica. The discovery has pointed to a top officer of the police force being the mastermind behind a system in which these weapons were being traded with the criminal elements. What is frightening about the whole find is that

elements within the law enforcement system are supplying weapons to criminals who would then point these same guns at fellow officers and innocent citizens. Additionally, it is clear that the system of stock control at the police armoury has been undermined.

The timing of this find could not be more significant, depending on how you view the situation. It reveals the mammoth task facing anyone who is to be appointed the new commissioner of police. On the other hand, it could be seen as a good omen, as the public talk is that Acting Commissioner Ellington is to be named the man for the job, for this act of corruption has been uncovered under his watch as acting commissioner, thereby vindicating the expressions of support for his candidacy. At the same time, the fact that he is being hailed as the man for the job from within a tainted force may not be the kind of positive commendation which he needs to gain the public confidence as the one who will be able to clean up the force.

There is no question that crime and violence are at an all-time high and not only pose a threat to the stability of the society, but to the life of every police officer. What is now clear, however, is that, whereas a lot of these criminal activities are being perpetrated by young men, and whereas the breakdown of trust between the citizens and the police has been expressed primarily by young men of lower socio-economic backgrounds, the breakdown of trust is now being expressed by all social groups. The restoration of trust between the public and the force will not happen by virtue of a new appointment. Neither will it come about with contrite and sincere pledges to turn things around from within the force or from government spokespersons. It is going to take a long time for this fractured trust to heal. All it takes to derail this relationship is one more story of the betrayal of trust through the corrupt and illegal involvement of a seemingly minuscule element from within the force.

Death of an Icon

I want to join in solidarity with the countless number of people who have offered expressions of condolence on the occasion of the death of Professor Rex Nettleford to his family, friends, and colleagues. His outstanding contributions to the life of our nation and the global community have been well documented.

What has not received obvious acknowledgement is the religious dimension of the life of this great Jamaican. Rex posed a serious challenge for those Christians who understand adherence to the faith only in terms of routine participation in the weekly regimen of the church’s life. That was not the way of the late professor. He was someone with a deep and broad religious sensitivity which not only found expression in some of his creative expressions in the world of the performing arts, or his appreciation of Rastafarianism not just as a phenomenon for sociological study but a religious movement, but he read widely in religion. He not only entered into dialogue with those who were ready and willing to share in religious discourse, but promoted the cause of religion.

Nettleford subscribed to a weekly English publication and would consistently cut out the articles on religion and share them with me and others who would appreciate the level of his broad religious interest. In addition, on a campus which many have been told that only atheists exist and atheism is taught, he constantly affirmed his belief that the affiliated Theological Colleges should function as the Faculty of Theology of the university and bring religious discourse to the centre of the life of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. In addition, his own public utterances revealed a deep appreciation for and affinity to Anglicanism.

May he rest in peace.