Dear Editor,

The recent incursions by the security forces into Tivoli Gardens have elicited varying responses from Jamaicans at home and abroad, with some viewing this as the start of the revolution to rid Jamaica of garrisons, dons, illegal drugs, illegal guns and sever what some say is an umbilical link between dons and politicians.

However, to some this amounts to political suicide on the part of the JLP – cannibalising its base.

Like it or not, Jamaica is at a crossroads and the direction in which we move is not only dependent on the political leadership but on civil society as a whole – who must now realise that united they have the power to spur any administration into positive action (remember the words of PJ Patterson at the end of the gas riots).

For we can retreat to the pre-incursion status quo or we can move toward the “New Jamaica”. Tivoli Gardens should be the pivot from which the rule of law and order is restored in every community in Jamaica: urban or rural, inner-city or suburbia. The move by the security forces to summon the most influential community leaders the length and breadth of Jamaica is a positive.

In order for the revolution to take hold amongst the masses, it must be devoid of tribal political considerations. The security forces must be professional and respect the rights of every citizen, the displaced status quo must be immediately and effectively replaced and modern development brought to these communities, for the superimposition of the ‘New Jamaica’ superstructure upon the “Old Jamaica” infrastructure will create a wedding-cake mixture essentially ephemeral.

PM Golding knowingly or unknowingly has initiated the revolution and he knows dismantling garrisons is a prerequisite for national growth and development. This was his stock in trade as NDM leader, and to start with his own constituency (parson christen ‘im pickney first) is either enlightened and revolutionary leadership or political suicide – history will be the judge.

Phillip A Chambers

phillipdcchambers@yahoo.com