A few decades ago when Jamaica was attempting to reorganise its electoral system, I watched an interview between Wilmot ‘Mutty’ Perkins and Danville Walker.

Mutty, as he was affectionately called, was terse, critical and confrontational. That was just his style, his delivery, and reaction, ruled by his emotion and passion.

Walker, on the other hand, was the opposite. Sensible, intelligent and absolutely unaffected or impacted by Mutty’s rancour.

As a young man this had an impact on me, as I was struck by Walker’s ability to be unaffected by the provocation, whilst at the same time still appearing calm and answering each pointed question and allegation intelligently.

My father was my primary influencer. It is through him that I developed my work ethic, my courage and my belief that each threat must be treated in the manner that is required, but calm communication and non-reaction to provocation was not his strong suit.

What I saw in that interview forced me to revisit how I deal with provocation and how I could respond to it. It also made me evaluate how do I want to be seen by others, as a Mutty or as a Walker.

This example reflects the impact that public figures can have on the public that looks towards them for direction and leadership.

Bear in mind I was in my twenties and still pursuing my education. I was no kid, I had positive influencers in my life. Yet I could be influenced by the conduct of a public figure.

It gave me a mark I could work towards that even now I have not quite achieved. But at least it showed me how I should or could conduct myself.

So when politicians shout and scream at each other in Parliament, or are caught beating their wives in public, the effects are more far reaching than you can imagine.

This is the power of influence.

There is a family in Central Village called Collins. The family has a history of criminal activity. Several have been charged. One is currently the most wanted in South St Catherine for over a decade. That being Stokely.

As a gang squad operator and investigator, my history with them is considerable and my interactions significant.

I have known several of the third generation of Collins since their birth. One of them I used to talk to more than others during the conduct of patrols and peacekeeping activities. The reason being, he had passed for a really good traditional high school.

I saw hope in this one – the possibility of altering a path to doom that was marked in genetic stone. He was responsive, engaging and often reassured me he had no interest in being the next generation of don.

I was hopeful for this young man’s future, I liked his spirit. His father being a fugitive robbed him of family interaction that from my own personal history with my father and my son, I know is needed and treasured.

Truth be told, this young man never had a prayer. The weight of being the son of a hated leader and of a equality hated gang ultimately led to conflicts that resulted in counter conflicts, his character adjusted and remolded in keeping with the indoctrination of his small space influencers.

I saw him detained, eventually charged, acquitted, become a suspect again ’till last year he became one of the 1,498 homicide victims of 2022.

I don’t think of the young man who eventually died from life choices. I remember the young high school boy who simply wanted to spend time with his father. Not who he became, but who he was.

The reality of the situation is that very few persons understand the true provision of the source of the raw material that makes up gangs.

They don’t just come from inner-cities. They come from the same homes, yards and families, generation after generation.

Macro plans to change communities are well intended and welcome, but they will not temper the flow of gang membership until the issue of the crime household is dealt with.

The kids in this environment are going to become gang members. It’s a given. We can change this. We must think as sociologists and develop programmes that are pointed to these small groupings.

We have to find ways to limit family influence on the three-year-old in that environment if we are to save him and save others from him.

The programmes can be so structured where boarding schools, micro mentors and counter influences are utilised.

As for my efforts at saving this young man, I was in effect ploughing the sea. My conversations, though positive, were at odds with the child’s reality.

Frankly speaking, he needed to be relocated. I feel in retrospect I could have done more.

Going forward, I believe we can do more. I can identify 30 such small groupings in Windsor Heights. This versus the thousands of citizens in that hillside is where the next generation of gunmen will emanate from.

The fact that I can identify groups means that others like myself who spend our lives between zinc fences fighting the gangs can do likewise.

Use us to identify your homicide producers of 2040 in 2023. This is the only long-term solution to this problem.

It won’t be won with rifles. That is for the short term. It can be won in the long term with a strategy that focuses resources on the doomed looking not at what they are, but what they can be.

I see it everyday, just like I saw it on that young man in that maroon and gold epaulette.