In the late 1960s Jamaica began refining the process of gang-controlled zones with the rise of a young Claude Massop.

The cold war and Jamaica’s 1970s experience introduced garrison-styled, gang-controlled communities in a way that somewhat mirrors the Brazilian favellas.

These garrisons have gone through changes, but other than Tivoli Gardens, which was forcibly crushed, they remain under the control of gangsters. So, what’s the big deal if they come under the control of the army and police force now?

Communities such as Denham Town Arnett Gardens, Wilton Gardens (also known as Rema) and Tawes Pen, to name a few, have been under a form of armed occupation since the 1970s. Children have been born, raised and are now middle-aged in these communities and know no other rule of law than that which is imposed by the ‘don’ of the day. Culture has been formed around this reality.

Yes, there are police operations that shift the power for a few days or weeks, but then the police leave and the don is in charge again. The people see the power in the form of guns in the gangsters’ hands. The don and his men are the powerful in the community, not just because they are armed, but also because they control labour contracts and have direct access to the Member of Parliament. They run the place!

The zones of special operations (ZOSO) could change this, however, we must accept a few realities. Firstly, those communities have not enjoyed human rights and freedom for over 40 years. The abuse of human rights is not unique to the State. Secondly, ZOSO is not a typical police curfew in a ghetto. It is a true attempt at a newly thought-out programme that is heavily focused on respect for and harmony with the occupied community. Thirdly, that cultural change doesn’t take weeks — it takes years.

If we accept our failure at ensuring an environment for all our citizens devoid of ‘thug rule’, then we will be willing to accept a solution as drastic as a decade-long occupation of Jamaica’s garrison communities by a joint military force determined to ensure the end of politically accepted gang rule.

Think of a young man growing up in Denham Town and not having to fear or respect any well known don and members of that don’s family; to only see soldiers with long guns; to not see anyone send for his 13-year-old sister while his mother weeps and his father drinks himself half to death in shame at witnessing the end of his own manhood. Think of a period in that small community when criminals have no power. Why is it so hard for us to grasp that this could be no worse than what we have sat back and allowed for over 40 years?

Occupation is not necessarily synonymous with brutality and oppression. The occupation of Japan in the post-World War II era was designed to rebuild and re-educate the populace about the negativity of the Banzai Philosophy and the ignorance of a blind, cult-like support of a non-elected leader in the person of Emperor Hirohito.

It accomplished its intent by avoiding brutality of the Japanese people rather than encouraging it. This is what I’m seeing with the ZOSO occupation of Denham Town. You wear a special badge, confrontation is discouraged, and respect for human rights is demanded.

This could be the beginning of the end of garrison rule in our country after 40-odd years of accepting that criminals can rule communities as long as it is not impacting the middle or upper classes.

This type of system, where gangs have the power, exists in many communities in our country — not just western Kingston. That is where it began, but it has spread. Spanish Town, Montego Bay and even Clarendon have communities whose dominant group is the gang of that zone. I won’t even try to name out the multiple communities in Kingston but I will point out that within the confines of uptown inner cities, it exists.

Grant’s Pen has dons. Can we really try to convince someone in the Grant’s Pen gully that they are safe to testify and still live there? We can’t! But put a ZOSO occupation in there and see the shift of power. You want to try kill a witness in an occupied ZOSO? Try it and see how fast INDECOM has some work on its hands. This is power. This is control. This is where we need to go, with the power squarely in the hands of authority figures and not some dunce, illiterate coward with a gun.

Why do we, who live uptown, not accept the reality of what we built? I say uptown because the human rights groups are an uptown phenomenon. There may be membership from the inner city, but the driving force is the wealthy.

Why do we fight this solution? What is it that we fear? Is it because no don is sending for our daughters?

Feedback: jasonamckay@gmail.com