ALL this news about dogs and dog’s paws and a man called Dog Paw that’s been going on in my favourite bar is just ridiculous!

First I heard he was collared, then someone joked that it was his other ‘dogs’ that gave him away and the BlackBerry broadcasts grew and grew. I was told by Pinchers (fellow bar denizen) that police ‘bite’ Dog Paw and carried him in. Then there were the rumours that he/it had been killed in a dogfight and the countering arguments, Internet jokes and pictures etc, so the stories continued. What is our fascination with criminal elements in this country and why do we love to elevate their status so? It puzzles me.

Several months ago a little girl left Jamaica funded by her parents and well-wishers to represent this country playing chess in some far off, cold European country and she did very well. She never made it to the third page or last column of the fifth page of any of our major newspapers. A Jamaican made some big important life-changing electronic techno gizmo that can better the world and is foreign paper me see it in which his family member was emailing to all friends. He sadly did not make the front page either. And I’m sure if I was into current affairs outside of the confines of a party environment I would be made aware of many more deeds being done daily by proud Jamaicans here and overseas to uplift our badly weakened image.

Yes, you may be saying, you do not know these people, but I did not know of Puss Paw or Dog Ears until the island’s media made him or it into something newsworthy. Everybody’s tail was wagging with the news and updates. Last week I attempted to be a good citizen and pay some outstanding bills. One of my creditor’s business place is located downtown on King Street. Having bolstered up the courage to face these people and make good on my debt and scrounged up enough funds to do so, to my horror, King Street resembled a military base. It was shut down from top to bottom, even side streets were inaccessible and the military was adamant that not even breeze drive through. Not to be deterred and oonu know how me faas, I parked several blocks away and enquired of a street vendor what the hullabaloo was about. I thought for sure the Queen of England had dropped in for a surprise visit and was touring King Street or maybe Papa B was holding a private dance for the JLP with Babsy at the turntables, but low and behold it was some person called ‘Livity’ that was going to court that caused all the excitement and loss of revenue to many shop owners and vendors along that strip for almost an entire day.

Why was he/she/it so important to warrant that kind of attention? No wonder they call themselves ‘dons’. I would call myself so too, if everything I did made front page news. No wonder our criminal elements try so hard to top the carnage every week, they are truly motivated by the headlines and news coverage aren’t they? Sad but true.

I can just imagine what happens on a gangster’s corner the morning after a night’s dirty deeds. Every radio station would be on blast at news time to see if their crime was heinous enough to be the topic of the week. Or, imagine everybody gathered around the one fellow that can read and while he reads the day’s headlines aloud, they beat their chests and claim responsibility like the far right militant fanatic groups do overseas.

I personally think that if we highlight them less, they wouldn’t feel so special anywhere else than within their communities and they wouldn’t feel pressured to make the news again. That’s just my one cent, who really is going to pay little ole me any attention? Big business is driven by money. Continue to enjoy what thrills you, but remember to make it a balanced diet. Happy trails folks. Send your comments to elvachatalot@yahoo.com and follow me for more raging insanity on Twitter @ElvaJamaica.