Dear Editor,

I read in the Jamaica Observer of Monday, November 13 that a gender activist and member of the Crime Monitoring and Oversight Committee (CMOC) Dr Nadeen Spence described Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna’s recent comments on crime as “dramatic”.

This is exactly what is wrong with Jamaica, too many with doctorate degrees are short-sighted and blinded by the harsh realities staring at them. They see everything through political lens and academia and end up missing the point(s) entirely.

I read Hanna’s column in the Sunday Observer, she has spoken about these issues many times with a great sense of urgency, and she is 100 per cent on point. The spate of horrific crimes are alarming and cause for concern. The response must be strategic and urgent, there is no single fix.

If there is a crime plan, obviously, something is not working.

There are obviously many people among us suffering with severe psychological trauma, which is now manifesting itself in the most horrific crimes. They have no regard for human life, not even their own. Are the members of CMOC even aware of this? Or maybe they think the solution is purely legislative.

Innocent children were shot and killed while travelling in a taxi due to a contract “hit” on another passenger; a young girl was abducted from school and found with her throat slashed, thrown in the bushes like garbage. This is the level of crime we are dealing with, and Dr Spence is talking about people being dramatic?

Terrorists with no concern for humanity are running rampant and living freely among us without fear. The prime minister himself said recently that his views on hanging have evolved due to the high levels of crime.

Legislation alone won’t fix these problems, there are serious antisocial problems which have been festering and manifesting for too long without any action; they require long-term social and psychological solutions (in addition to legislation). They require concrete bipartisan plans. Now is not the time to play politics or make excuses for committees that are ineffective and slow.

Ultimately, parliamentarians who are elected by the people must answer to the people, and this is what Hanna spoke to, with an urgent call to action.

Too many things that require urgency take too long to be implemented due to inefficiencies, bureaucracy, and simplistic responses, such as those given by Dr Spence.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com