The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

A former commissioner of police made the point some years ago that the crime situation in Jamaica appeared to have a switch where you can turn crime on or off, and this switch needed to be discovered.

The find of 119 guns and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition found in Miami, Florida, that were destined for Montego Bay, St James, should be a eureka moment for those who doubted the cogency of his diagnosis.

No minimum-wage employee could have afforded to import these 119 guns and assorted ammunition. The merchants of death involved in this illicit trade evidently have very deep pockets and matching connections. They are making an investment. What is their expected return on the investment? What is their ultimate objective?

The journey

The birds tweet that, in certain circles of western Jamaica, some powerful criminal elements involved in lotto scamming and its murderous derivatives have joined forces to defend their dwindling, ill-gotten fortunes, from — and here I take liberties with Shakespeare — men who have a “lean and hungry look” ( Julius Caesar) on their faces and suffer with “vaulting ambitions” ( Macbeth).

How did we get to this point?

Recall a CNN documentary named the late Kenley “Bebe” Stephenson as the “godfather of scamming in Jamaica”. Like a typical mob fiend, Stephenson’s death mirrored how he lived:

“The People’s National Party (PNP) activist and sub-cultural bon vivant of sorts was shot and wounded in November 2009 and, of course, he lived to tell the tale of his lucky escape. In his final date with life on Sunday evening he was at his gate with two men when a lone gunman approached and shot him, then made his exit on foot. Unlike in 2009, when his car and other items were taken, the two men were untouched and nothing was taken, hence my reason for using the word ‘hit’.

“The question is why would someone want to harm someone who was lauded by PNP MP [Member of Parliament] D K Duncan as having made a ‘significant contribution to the PNP, through the youth organisation and the West Central St James constituency’.

“Another fact, but one more generic and reminiscent of something that would emanate from the National Security Ministry, was stated in a release from the PNP in relation to Bebe’s death. ‘The latest killing confirms that, while strides are being made in the fight against violent crimes and all criminality, we still have a long way in the journey to victory against criminals.’

“Michael Troupe, PNP councillor for the Granville Division, the stomping ground of Bebe, said: ‘It is a very sombre mood in Granville, everybody is mourning. Bebe was a very popular man in Granville and the entire St James.’ “ ( Jamaica Observer, May 28, 2014)

Encomium for “Bebe”

Stephenson got a hero-like funeral.

A Gleaner story, entitled ‘PNP exec ‘Bebe’ laid to rest’, published on June 23, 2014, told the awful tale. The story said, among other things: “People’s National Party (PNP) executive and popular Montego Bay figure Kenley ‘Bebe’ Stephens was yesterday laid to rest after two thanksgiving services in St James.

“One of the funerals was held at the Holy Trinity Zion Church and the other at the Granville Deliverance Centre.

“Stephens, also known as Kenrick Stephenson, was shot dead last month.

“The police had described him as a major player in the lottery scam operations in Montego Bay.

“Stephens also served as vice-chairman of the PNP’s St James West Central constituency.

“Reverend Juavene Guthrie, the assistant pastor at Holy Trinity, broke down in tears after reading a congratulatory card that was given to her by the deceased following her pastoral appointment some time ago.

“At the second funeral at the Granville Deliverance Centre, Government members Derrick Kellier and Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams said Stephens was selfless and recalled his contribution to his community and the PNP.

“In honour of the fallen Comrade, the councillor for the Granville Division Michael Troupe announced the establishment of a scholarship for a student living in Granville.”

Who inherited Bebe’s criminal foundation?

On May 27, 2014, the Old Lady of North Street carried an article entitled ‘ ‘Bebe’ murdered gangland-style, J-FLAG wants speedy investigation’. The article said, among other things:

“Friends and associates have reacted with shock to Sunday night’s gangland-style killing of Montego Bay-based political activist Kenrick ‘Bebe’ Stephenson.

“Montego Bay’s deputy mayor, Councillor Michael Troupe, who has known Stephenson since he was a child and had subsequently worked closely with him on the political campaign trail for the ruling People’s National Party (PNP), described him as a friend.

“ ‘People might say a lot of things about him, but he was a loyal and dependable person,’ said Troupe, who is councillor for the Granville Division, where Stephenson grew up. ‘He will be sadly missed.’

“Stephenson, known for his openly gay lifestyle, was recently elected vice-chairman of the PNP’s Western Central St James constituency.”

The PNP needs to hold its head in constant shame for this monumental episode of betrayal of public trust. Those public figures who attended this funeral, at a minimum, should be disqualified from public office. How did Bebe pass the integrity tests which the PNP said, in 2011, would be de rigueur for holders of high office in Norman Manley’s party?

The Gleaner story continued: “Yesterday, the PNP said it was saddened by news of his death.”

The piece of May 27, 2014 also gave these details: “The colourful Stephenson, who was quite prominent on the social circuit in western Jamaica, has had several run-ins with the law over the years.

“Following his May 2012 arrest by the Anti-Lottery Scam Task Force, Superintendent Leon Clunie described him as a major player in the scam.

“ ‘Bebe is one of the founders of the illegal lottery scam,’ said Clunie, the head of the task force at the time. ‘He has been living a luxurious lifestyle; yet he has never, from our understanding, been employed in any of the services in Jamaica.’ ”

Again, Members of Parliament who attend the funerals of known gangsters, euphemistically sometimes called community leaders, must not grace the halls of Gordon House in the new dispensation of politics which is needed to take this country forward.

Tipping point

Gangsterism and scamming must be dealt a mortal blow once and for all. Those who have brought these twin plagues upon our land must be smoked out of their networks of holes. Last week someone said to me it was a good thing the 119 guns and assorted ammunition were found in Miami and not Jamaica. This kind of reasoning is understandable. For far too long we have heard of large and small quantities of guns and ammunition being found in our ports, but seldom any arrests of the senders and/or receivers of these illicit weapons.

Jamaica is losing five per cent of its gross domestic product because of crime and violence. The western part of the island is one of the fastest-growing economic zones in the country. We cannot, as a country, allow our tourism breadbasket to be turned into a wasteland, by anti-Jamaican fringe elements.

Will the whole

This screaming headline by The Gleaner, ‘PNP confirms intended receiver of mega gun shipment was employed to one of its councillors’, raises more questions than answers. The story said, among other things: “The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has confirmed reports that the woman listed as the intended receiver of the mega shipment of guns and ammunition seized by law enforcement in Miami, Florida, was an employee of one of its councillors in St James.

“In a release late last night, the PNP said the woman was employed to councillor of the Granville Division Michael Troupe, but left his employ three months ago.” (The Gleaner, December 8, 2017)

Last Monday, St James Municipal Corporation documents revealed that the woman whose name appeared as the sender of the illegal guns was paid in her capacity as an assistant to Councillor Michael Troupe on November 17, 2017. The contradiction is noteworthy.

Then on Tuesday of last week the Jamaica Observer published a story entitled ‘New developments in illegal gun shipment probe’. The story said, among other things: “Yesterday, Troupe told the Observer that it was not unusual for workers to receive their earnings late. In fact, Troupe disclosed that the late payment was among the reasons that the woman walked off the job.

“ ‘She left the first week in October. All when October done she don’t get pay. She got paid three weeks ago? Yes! She got paid, I think, the 17th of November. At that time, she left the work long time,’ Troupe said. ‘The money is always late. What is so hard to believe in that?’ “

Councillors Troupe asked us to accept his word, but he needs to explain how both he and Karima Hudson’s name and signature dated October 27, 2017 were affixed to a council document that approved payment to Hudson for work done as his assistant up until the last day of October. What accounts for the variance, Councillor Troupe? It would be good for Councillor Troupe and the PNP to provide some clarity.

The general secretary of the PNP, Julian Robinson, declared last week that his party would not be making any more statements on the find of the 119 guns and 300 rounds of ammunition. I thought this sounded a little unlike Robinson. For one, his tone sounded almost abrasive. Robinson should understand that information will get out with or without him. That is the nature of the age in which we live.

War and rumours

Last Sunday those reliable Black-Bellied Plovers, John Chewits and Banana Quits warbled that “an influential block in the PNP has openly espoused the Pickersgillian dictum for State power retention and acquisition as the party’s best political lever to peg the double-digit lead and expanding national popularity of leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and prime minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness”. ( Sunday Observer, December 10, 2017)

Last Monday, people connected to 89 Old Hope Road were busy in social media endorsing a message which said inter alia, “This is war!! No retreat no surrender. We are taking this government down!! All hands are needed on deck!!” Is this the voice of Dr Peter Phillips’s PNP, or are we seeing a recession narrative in motion?

In last Sunday’s article the birds also tweeted about: “Advanced plans by one group to trigger rolling strikes before the end of 2017.” On Tuesday, The Gleaner carried this headline: ‘Cops sick-out intensifies’. The story said, among other things: “It appears that the sick-out among rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has intensified, with fewer cops showing for duties at police stations across the island today than yesterday. There are reports that as many as 50 police personnel didn’t report for duties in Portmore, St Catherine, this morning. Several other police stations across the island are now operating with far fewer than their usual complement of personnel today.”

The birds are now singing that some in the PNP are very upset that a certain Comrade who has challenges with the aspiration of the letter H, plus some basic subject-verb agreement issues is becoming too influential in crafting the media narrative of the party. The birds tweet that the Drumblair faction is planning a pushback, since they fear what they see as a possible gloomy return to an anti-intellectual public posture. More anon!

Jamaica’s best days are ahead. I am betting on Jamaica, full stop!

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Truth has rough flavours if we bite it through. — George Eliot

Garfield Higgins is an educator; journalist; and advisor to the minister of education, youth and information. Send comments to the Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com.