Criminals seem too confident they can win
Dear Editor,
It is not an overkill to again visit the topic of violence. There is a new feature to the type of violent activity we are now experiencing in Jamaica. A careful assessment of the violent incidents, especially multiple homicides, will show that the gunmen are highly motivated, fearless, and believe they can win. They appear well-equipped, well-trained and/or are knowledgeable.
The killing of five people in March Pen in St Catherine last weekend is clear indication that the criminals carrying out these acts believe they can beat the security forces in the battle they are waging.
The harsh reality of this incident is that none of the victims were born before 1990. This, by itself, should frighten us into the reality that so many of our young people are not being allowed to live to any substantive age before they are cut down.
The men allegedly wore police vests as they carried out the act. They carried out their deeds with surgical precision; they set the premises on fire, then withdrew from the community in a tactical way.
If we look at another incident in St Ann, in a deep-rural community called Cockpit, we see similar characteristics of the gunmen involved. In this case the gunmen went to the community and waited on the victim. When the victim drove up they opened fire on the car. The victim and his girlfriend were in the car. The victim ran out of the car but was cut down by a bullet. They went over him and pumped 22 bullets into him.
The gunmen were wearing knee pads and they appeared to have had an inexhaustible amount of ammunition. After they committed these murderous acts they casually walked from the community and some senior citizens waived to them thinking they were normal visitors to the community.
By now many of us would have seen the video of a young man armed with an automatic rifle chasing police officers in West Kingston. The only fitting description of this young man is that he is highly motivated. His morale is high. He believes he can win. He is well-equipped and highly trained and knowledgeable. Again, we see displayed here highly motivated warriors in action; people who are fearless and who believe they can win.
Is there a belief in these gunmen that they are on the descent while the police force is in retreat? We cannot deny that several police officers have expressed concern about the possibility of being charged, suspended or placed on interdiction. We must be careful that we are not pursuing policies that are driving fear in the police officers; putting them on the retreat while the gunmen feel a sense of embolden.
We have endless laws on our books to deal with crime. It is not more laws that are needed. It is a fearless, determined effort to get the better of young men who are fearlessly taking on the State.
Linton P Gordon
lpgordon@cwjamaica.com