Jamaica is once again gripped in a tidal wave of murders — from Montego Bay to March Pen and many places in-between. While there may be some downward movement in other categories of major crimes, and while the number of murders to date (just above 900) may be similar to previous years, there is a level of brutality and impunity with which the criminals in Montego Bay and March Pen have been carrying out their murderous rampage that it feels awfully worse than other times. But, truth be told, we have been here before, sadly.

That the present carnage is not unique is precisely the problem, and our seeming inability to bring the situation under control is what is frightening. It is most ironic that on the day the security forces and policymakers were in Montego Bay, the gunmen were still carrying out their acts of barbarity. There must be solutions to the problem; and not just by way of increasing police presence in the areas ravaged by the onslaught (since that is not sustainable), but long-term solutions that will result not merely in taming the audacity of gunmen, but in redirecting their energies.

The solution to any major problem requires that root causes be tackled. In many respects Jamaica’s crime-fighting strategies have been largely – though admittedly not exclusively – responses to symptoms, rather than getting to root causes. In my opinion, getting to the root causes may not be in the interest of some. To the cursory (and sometimes cynical but insightful) observer, crime pays some people and it may, strangely, be in the interest of some that the root causes of crime be left in place since the consequences of murders, as we are seeing them, are often not intended, but are rather collateral damage.

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

Root cause analysis, as a technique of problem-solving, is when the analyst examines not just what is happening (in our case, hundreds of homicides), but why it is happening.

The fact that a youth as young as 14 years old can acquire the status of a ‘feared don’ requires explanation. The breakdown in family values and the structure of the family, with many households not having a father, have figured as contributory causes of youth violence and criminality. While acknowledging these causes, it may indeed be the case that the characteristics of the recent spate of killings in western Jamaica appear to point in a completely different direction.

It appears to me that beyond the family there is a near-entrenched culture of lawlessness that emerges outside the home. In this culture of lawlessness some behaviours are winked at, or excused, or justified by the society. I suggest that it is the enabling attitudes and structures of the culture of lawlessness that are the root causes of the high level of crime in Jamaica. Unless we exercise the courage to first of all acknowledge these root causes, and secondly to find the political will to address them, we will be in this situation for a long time to come. Two of the enabling attitudes and structures are garrison communities (or political strongholds) and an inequitable justice system.

POLITICAL STRONGHOLDS

If we take a look at the locations that have been at the centre of much of the criminality in Jamaica over several decades, it would not be difficult to see the validity of the long-held view articulated by sociologists that there is a link between politics and crime. This link has been so compellingly established that it defies logic that successive political administrations have not sought to deal decisively with it.

The nature of the relationship may have changed from what it was in the 1970s, when most murders between 1976 and 1980 were directly related to rival political gangs. In the case of the recent spate of killings in western Jamaica there is no evidence to suggest that the murders are politically related. The immediate fight seems to be over the proceeds of lotto scamming.

While fight over the proceeds of lotto scamming may not be the main cause of the murders in areas outside of western Jamaica, the evidence appears to suggest that the vast majority of the murders are related to control of economic turf. That most gangs exist in political strongholds, and most murders are committed by people in political strongholds, would appear to suggest that in order to reduce murders, and crime generally, garrisons must be eliminated. This is one of the recommendations of the David Simmonds Tivoli Commission of Enquiry report.

The Government has so far accepted one of the recommendations of the Simmonds Commission Report, namely to apologise to the people of Tivoli. Opinions may differ on the justification of giving such an apology, but I see it, despite reservations, as a display of political maturity. But the Government would be displaying even greater maturity and courage if it were to take on yet another recommendation of Sir David Simmonds and his panel by moving to ‘de-garrisonise’ garrison communities. Unless the steps are taken towards this end, then the Government must take the brunt of the blame for the level of crime gripping the society. And wringing hands in seeming despair, and appealing to gunmen to behave themselves, should be seen for what they are — hypocrisy.

THE CRIME FIGURES

The table above shows the crime figures for the period January 1-October 2, 2015 and 2016. The same five police divisions are responsible for most other categories of crime. At least one garrison is situated in at least three of the five police divisions. See Table 1.

INEQUITY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

The justice system does not work for some and this fact, I submit, is a major contributor to the culture of lawlessness. In many instances the application of the rule of law varies, depending on who is involved. The upshot of this is that some citizens have come to believe that they can get away with wrongdoing. Many entities, for example, erect billboards and buildings without permits, many stage events that go well into the night without the necessary permits are not prosecuted. Then there is the recent case of a Jamaican politician who was accused of seeking to procure the murder of two men and the decision of the Ministry of National Security to cease granting them witness protection. Despite a promise to investigate, we have yet to get an update from the minister of national security on why the witness protection facility was removed.

The media are expected to be the watchdog of the public’s interest. How much investigation has the media undertaken to expose the acts of public officials and other individuals who are involved in acts which serve to perpetuate the culture of lawlessness?

Some years ago a revenue protection agent was about to carry out enforcement actions against a prominent politician. While he was at the scene he received a call to abort the enforcement. Nothing further has been heard since then. There was another case of the illegal removal of tens of truckloads of sand from a location in St Ann. No one was ever charged and the matter disappeared from public discourse. By contrast, a man steals a dozen ackees and is charged and imprisoned.

Common sense will tell us that there must be a relationship between the impunity with which criminals go about their barbaric acts and the operations of the justice system which, while needing to be held accountable, needs increased resources. Common sense would suggest that there is also a relationship between the attitude of criminals to their victims and their acts of criminality, and the attitude of the sections of the unlawful acts of some in the society who seem to be above the law. An efficient and equitable justice system is one of the solutions to crime. We had better acknowledge this and act urgently to correct it.

Dr Canute S Thompson is a certified management consultant and lecturer in educational policy, planning and leadership in the School of Education, The University of the West Indies, Mona. He is a co-founder of the Caribbean Leadership Re-Imagination Initiative. Send comments to the Observer or canutethompson1@gmail.com.