Well-thinking Jamaicans must do more than just shake our heads in disbelief at how unserious the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), led by Mark Golding, is. We must sound the alarm, loudly.

Understand this: the PNP cannot credibly attack the Andrew Holness-led Administration on the state of the economy. By any objective measure, our economy remains in reasonably good health despite the massive devastation Hurricane Melissa inflicted on Jamaica and the double whammy of the global oil crisis.

The PNP also cannot credibly attack the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on the matter of crime, particularly murders. Up to the time of writing, there has been a 23 per cent decline in homicides compared with the corresponding period in 2025. That means 77 fewer Jamaicans have been murdered. I am not happy that any Jamaican has been murdered, but I am glad that, following the historic 31-year low in murders recorded in 2025, homicides continue to decrease appreciably. Sadly, some hate this reality.

The PNP cannot credibly attack on an ideological front, as they did in the 70s. Socialism is dead. That old rusty nail has bitten the dust. What tactic is left?

When an Opposition that is bereft of fundable and practical ideas cannot credibly attack a governing party on the state of the economy, the explosive matter of crime, or the prickly issue of ideology, it resorts to performative politics.

I have highlighted how the Opposition has been conducting a veritable clown show in our Parliament over recent months. This has failed.

Given the failure of the Opposition’s go-to tactics, Osmond Theodore Fairclough’s PNP has had to resort to a tactic as old as politics itself. The PNP is now trying to attack or weaken the primary strengths of the ruling JLP — a resilient economy and declining murders and other major crimes — so that it can find fertile ground to credibly attack and defeat Sir Alexander Bustamante’s party.

Minister with responsibility for works Robert Morgan

One does not need a degree to figure out that the timely, successful, and continued implementation of the JLP’s strategy of modernising of our roads, education system, courts, heath facilities, social institutions, public sector, etc, is dependent on further strengthening of the JLP’s existing strengths.

When you cannot find viable and practicable points of weakness to defeat your opponent, you attack their strengths. This tactic has been tried and tested in business, negotiations, war, politics, diplomacy, personal relationships, and other spheres of decision-making since time immemorial.

What is the go-to political antidote for this age-old tactic? Simply don’t ever let down your guard.

Here is an example from Greek mythology which illustrates how crucial it is to safeguard one’s strengths:

In the story of Heracles and the Libyan giant Antaeus, Heracles realised he could not defeat Antaeus using brute strength alone, because the giant renewed his immense power every time his feet touched the earth (his mother). To weaken and defeat Antaeus, Heracles attacked Antaeus’s primary strength. He lifted Antaeus high off the ground, severing his connection to the earth, and crushed the giant to death in mid-air.

What is the primary lesson of this Greek tale?

When facing an opponent with superior strength, success often requires finding and attacking the source of their power and dismantling it, rather than launching a direct assault.

Members of the Jamaica Defence Force on operation in the Corporate Area near a zone of special operations. (Photo: Observer File)

We have similar stories to the cited Greek tale in our culture as well. Every culture does.

Recall the Anancy story in which the proud Brother Tiger boasts of his immense power, prompting the clever spider Anancy to challenge him to a tug-of-war. Anancy secretly ties one end of a long jungle vine to Tiger and the other end to Brother Elephant, positioning himself so the two giants cannot see each other. When Anancy signals to begin, both animals pull with full force, each mistakenly believing he is competing against the tiny spider. The two giants completely exhaust themselves in a futile battle against each other’s massive power. Ultimately, Anancy triumphs by using Tiger’s own strength and pride to humble him without ever pulling the rope himself.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Inverting the strengths of the governing JLP in an attempt to defeat it, that is the tactic the PNP is banking on now. It has not discarded performative politics. The PNP has engaged twin devils.

Ponder this: There are currently seven zones of special operations (ZOSOs) in communities across the island. These are located in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland; Mount Salem and Norwood in St James; August Town, Denham Town, Greenwich Town, and Parade Gardens in the Corporate Area.

Three Wednesdays ago the House of Representatives granted an extension that will keep these measures in place for another six months. I believe this was the right decision. The ZOSOs are among the most effective tools the Administration has successfully deployed in its national crime-reduction strategy. They have been so successful here at home that some of our Caribbean neighbours have adopted and adapted them to suit their own needs.

Communities that still have ZOSOs in place are no longer breeding grounds for murders, rapes, robberies, carjackings, and other serious crimes. I do not believe for a single second that the Administration would have extended these ZOSOs without the informed recommendations of our security forces. The security forces act on intelligence. I would rather trust their recommendations any day of the week than the suggestions of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who has been conspicuously indecisive — at best — and wishy-washy at worst on the implementation of ZOSOs from the very beginning.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding on Tuesday during the protest in Cross Roads, St Andrew. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

“I am personally sceptical as to the continuing usefulness of the [ZOSOs] in these communities,” is what Golding said in Parliament three Wednesdays ago. I am not surprised in the least.

Does Golding live in any of these communities? Of course not!

I believe he is totally oblivious to the fact that most ordinary Jamaicans do not live in gated communities. Ordinary folks cannot afford to hire private security companies, nor do most own a licensed firearm or a pack of pit bulls to help defend themselves and their property. While the reduction in crime is good news for all of Jamaica, it is especially welcome for ordinary Jamaican citizens.

Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon Robert Morgan did the right thing when he chastised Golding and the PNP for suggesting an easing of these fruitful ZOSOs. He was spot on when he reminded the House of Representatives that the PNP has been more of a hindrance than a help in the fight against murders and other major crimes.

Nine Sundays ago I noted in this space that Mark Golding and the PNP were now behaving like veritable political freeloaders regarding the historic 31-year reduction in murders and other major crimes — a development from which the majority of ordinary Jamaicans are now benefiting. Does Golding get this? Does he understand this reality?

Why would the Opposition want an easing of the ZOSOs?

Minister of National Security and Peace Horace Chang addressing Parliament recently on the declining crime numbers. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

It’s elementary, my dear Watson!

The PNP can no longer ride crime as an effective political vehicle. What many said was a near impossibility for the foreseeable future has been achieved. Last year, murders plunged to 673 — a 43 per cent reduction compared to 2024, and the lowest annual homicide total the country has seen in over 31 years. The credit belongs fully to the Administration, the thousands of well-thinking Jamaicans, the men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), and the astute policy leadership of National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang — undoubtedly the best security minister since Jamaica’s political independence.

It is very shameful and scandalous that the same PNP which once berated the Andrew Holness-led Administration for supposedly having no crime plan is now actively seeking to take credit for the reduction in murders and other major crimes. As the saying goes, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.”

US President John F Kennedy famously used this maxim in 1961 when accepting responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.

The Administration must not water down the ZOSOs. There is abundant objective evidence that they are working very successfully. If the governing JLP foolishly dilutes their effectiveness, and allows these ghastly murderers and other major crime producers to re-emerge with the same intensity as before, Mark Golding and the PNP will be the first to pillory the Administration unrelentingly.

KEEP THEM ON THE RUN!

In my The Agenda piece of May 11, 2025, I stated, among other things: “While the Administration continues to be tough on crime and the causes of crime, all well-thinking Jamaicans need to join the fight against criminals. Those who refuse to join this good fight are merely setting themselves up to become prey. I do not believe that powder puffs and hugs should be applied to criminals who shoot at the police or otherwise endanger the lives of law-abiding citizens. Criminals have had the upper hand in this country for a long, long time. They are on the run today, and they must be kept on the run. There must be no respite for criminals in Jamaica.”

I am not recoiling one inch. Those who unceasingly campaign to make Jamaica safe for criminals must not be allowed to derail the most critical function of the State — the preservation of life and the promotion of happiness by vigorously guarding against attacks from both internal and external predators. The criminals had ordinary Jamaicans on the run for far too long. We have them on the run now. I want it to remain exactly that way.

CHOKEHOLD TACTIC

Some time ago, former Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson stated: “Every single time that the police and gunmen engage, the police must win.”

Last year, Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned those with criminal intentions that they would “either meet a judge or their maker” if they sought to wreak havoc in Jamaica.

I fully agree with both positions.

Recently I heard Opposition Leader Mark Golding complaining in Parliament about 11 people being killed over a 24-hour period by the security forces. According to police reports, these were criminals. I believe the police. A member of the JCF was injured in one of those encounters, yet Mr Golding did not utter a single word about that. Why? Golding referred to the 11 as citizens. Are members of the security forces not citizens? Are the tax-paying, law-abiding Jamaicans not citizens?

As I see it, the PNP is soft on crime and the causes of crime. Recall that when the objective successes of the States of Public Emergency (SOEs) became evident the PNP withdrew its support. They were, at best, non-committal on the ZOSOs from the get-go and are now calling for an easing of them. This is their familiar chokehold tactic. It must be firmly rejected by the Administration.

The Government must also listen discerningly to those whose bread and butter depends on conflating and equating every action by State agents with premeditated and unmitigated wickedness.

BUJU SHOOTING

Several readers have asked me to comment on the recent fatal shooting of Latoya “Buju” Bulgin in Granville, St James, by a policeman. First, the policeman who fatally shot Latoya Bulgin has already been charged with murder. Some seem not to have heard that bit of news. I believe I know why.

Second, I anticipate that the investigations will proceed free from mob pressure by criminal rights lobbyists.

Third, I have great trust in our local courts.

Fourth, I do not expect those anxious to turn the matter into a show trial to succeed.

And, fifth, I do not anticipate a whitewash.

Garfield Higgins is an educator and journalist. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com.

HIGGINS …