MONTEGO BAY, St James — A St James councillor is convinced that once the zone of special operations (ZOSO) ends in Mount Salem the community will revert to the crime and violence that plagued it before the anti-crime measure was put in place four years ago.

According to Councillor Kerry Thomas (People’s National Party, Mount Salem Division), not enough has been done to provide viable alternatives to a life of crime and to arm residents with the skills needed to peacefully settle differences.

While he was pleased with the latest extension of the security measure, he told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday that he would have been happier if the community was in a position where the ZOSO was no longer needed.

Mount Salem was the first community in the country to be declared a ZOSO.

“The police presence is always good in any community… The extension of it keeps the mind of the people in a very comfortable position. However, personally, when we analyse it, after four and a half years, the ZOSO should be looking to leave the community. [It] should have become sustainable in the sense… of having the people in a state or place where crime is not the first resort,” reasoned Thomas.

He believes the “hard policing” has been effective and now needs to be replaced by a softer touch.

“The softer side of the ZOSO, which is supposed to… resolve… whatever tensions are between families throughout communities and get them now to start accepting forgiveness and move on with life has not taken place,” Thomas argued.

“So it’s not just about extending [the measure]. The work has to be done on the ground to ensure that at some time it can leave. It can’t stay forever, and normally the legislation period is about three years. We are one and a half years over that now and they get the impression that tomorrow morning everything will go back to square one with the murders taking place,” said Thomas.

He believes the long-term solution includes more job opportunities for young people and putting in place restorative justice mechanisms.

“So, short term you make the police presence stay but at the same time you have to come in now and effect real change in the mind of the people. Get the youths out there. get them true, good professions… so they can get employed and change the minds of the people. Go into the spaces that need restorative justice and talk to people, find out where the tensions are, and bring families and friends together so we can… resolve the issues,” he said.