There is a common belief that the only solution to the senseless killing taking place in the society is to fight fire with fire. In other words, hire more police and give them more guns and bullets to kill more criminals. While I believe there is a place for hard policing, it is my conviction that jobs and opportunities are the armaments with which the war against poverty and the wanton criminality it helps breed will be finally won.

If security measures like states of emergency and zones of special operations continue to be the biggest investment by Government in marginalised inner-city garrison communities, under the mistaken belief that Jamaica’s crime problem is largely one of law enforcement, we will not successfully attack the root causes of crime and violence.

One bright area in our slow-growth but steadily improving economy is the dramatic increase in capital expenditure, up from $39 billion to $55.5 billion for the period April 2017 to February 2018. With greater fiscal space within which to operate, the Government has made clear its intention to invest in the island’s physical, human and social capital. That bodes well for the long-term solution to some forms of crime and violence.

There is, however, a pattern developing that is worrying. With huge expenditure on government projects comes the attendant risk of lack of transparency and lack of inclusion. A case in point, on April 16, 2019, Minister of National Security Horace Chang, in his sectoral budget presentation, announced that a new police headquarters would be built on a 120-acre tract of land called No Man’s Land in the iconic birthplace of reggae. Investment of this or any type would ordinarily be cause for celebration in a community starved of economic opportunities and jobs, especially for young people. Instead, there has been speculation among some community stakeholders who learned via the media of the plan to develop this important community asset. Although not rising to the level of opposing the plan, some of the questions being asked include: Did the Member of Parliament know of the plan before it was announced? Were the Community Development Committees from surrounding communities engaged in developing the plan? What else is planned for the land, which with an expanding capital Kingston is today prime real estate? Will residents be displaced by the development? Has the land been sold or promised to private sector interests; and, if so, who are they?

The situation is reminiscent of the saga surrounding the Government’s plan to develop National Heroes’ Circle, including construction of a new parliament building. What should have been a welcome development has been mired in controversy. The news headlines reveal the concerns raised by residents of the nearby Allman Town, who will be severely impacted — ‘Do not leave us out – Allman Town residents appeal’; ‘No plan for mass relocation of Allman Town residents’; ‘$2.5-billion National Heroes’ Park project takes on political tone’; ‘Many questions and concerns raised about Government Oval proposals at town hall meeting’.

The problem of sidelining community stakeholders in matters affecting their lives and livelihood was succinctly expressed by Carol Narcisse, civil society representative, at an RJR/Gleaner town hall meeting. The media reported her saying: “You cannot plan for the people without including the people. It is at the project conceptualisation stage that these kinds of engagement have to happen.”

Whether Trench Town, Allman Town, Negril, Port Royal, or Bernard Lodge, a better way of implementing large-scale projects must be found to ensure wealth is created at the base of the socio-economic pyramid, and not just at the top. First, the residents of the affected communities should be consulted through their community organisations on the best use to which community assets should be put. Second, projects should be assessed for their impact on the environment, on various socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment and inclusiveness, and whether residents will be displaced by rising real estate value resulting from the development (so-called gentrification). Third, people in the locale should be given opportunities for employment, not just in the construction phase but for participation in ongoing economic development and investment.

No Man’s Land has an unrealised potential to be a major tourism destination and the hub for Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries. Consultation with and engagement of community stakeholders could result in an integrated mixed-use development, where the best of both worlds — security and economics — co-exist and contribute to the wealth of the community and the upliftment of the residents. This is an opportunity for economic development in a peaceful and harmonious environment that the people’s representatives in Parliament cannot afford to mismanage.

hmorgan@cwjamaica.com