Peter Espeut | Crime, violence and indiscipline

It may be a Christopher Columbus statement that the Government of Jamaica has failed to bring down the incidence of crime and violence in Jamaica to acceptable levels. It would be truthful to say this of all governments since Independence – and before. Jamaica as a society was founded on violence, and is perpetuated through violence. It is not an easy task to change the foundation on which Jamaican society is based, but change it we must!

From the day Jamaica became a Spanish colony, its prosperity was based on violence against the aboriginal inhabitants, the Taino. Slave society was held in place by state violence, and was resisted by what became a grassroots culture of violence.

Emancipation was forced on local elites by the colonial power, appeased by cash compensation for the “loss of their property”. Those aggrieved by slavery received no compensation, and the local elites who controlled the government implemented policies through legislation to try to force the former slaves to work for wages, rather than to work for themselves. State violence against the emerging peasantry provoked violent resistance in Morant Bay, resulting in even more violent suppression and repression by the colonial state.

Unable to govern, the planter-controlled House of Assembly abolished itself, and submitted to direct rule from Whitehall in London.

At least they had that option!

And then the Jamaica Constabulary Force was born, ushering in a new era of state violence.

GROWING INDISCIPLINE

It is disingenuous to place all the blame for the growing incidence of school indiscipline at the feet of the two years of COVID-19-induced furlough from the classroom. That certainly has made things worse, but since Independence, we have seen a growing incidence of indiscipline in several areas of Jamaican life. Students live what they learn from watching adults!

Indiscipline on our roads is legendary, especially among those who make their living from driving (like taxi and minibus operators).

Our political culture is plagued with indiscipline, starting with green- and orange-clad supporters hanging off buses, the establishment of political garrisons by peopling government-funded housing schemes with political activists, nepotism and cronyism in appointments to plum jobs and government (and school) boards, and in the award of contracts. Corruption in public life is an egregious form of indiscipline, which can cost lives (like licensing untrained drivers, and certifying unfit vehicles).

History has shown that leaving politicians to stem political corruption is like expecting the slavemasters to abolish slavery. It just won’t happen! The indiscipline is right at the top! Including in the conduct of Parliament itself!

We don’t even admit that we have a problem with sexual indiscipline, with early initiation into sexual activity (often through rape), too high incidence of teenage pregnancy and incest, widespread sexual harassment, and widely ignored trafficking in persons for the sex trade. Our tourism is based on sun, sand, and sea; but it is also based on sex and sensimilia encouraged by government propaganda, and our young people learn quickly from adults how to use their bodies to get favours and to make a living.

The drive for legal abortion panders to sexual indiscipline.

Can we expect politicians to foster a society grounded in sexual discipline? You tell me!

FUTURE TOO VALUABLE

Jamaica’s future is too important and valuable to leave in the hands of politicians alone. Civil society – including the Church, which has been much too silent on these matters – must grow in influence to perform its sacred duty to guide constitutional reform, prepare a national plan to combat crime, violence and indiscipline, and to transform our educational system into an agent of positive socialisation. If politicians do not evince positive values and attitudes in how they conduct their personal and partisan affairs, how can we expect them to bring a high moral sense to national affairs?

In my view, civil society – including the Church – has been far too timid in inserting itself into the cut and thrust of guiding public affairs. Churches and trusts run the best schools – by far – in the nation; environment and development NGOs and others have made successful social interventions in inner cities and rural areas, especially among young people. They have skills and experience they have been using in nation-building. These should have wider application and reach.

The major anti-crime effort of the Government has been through zones of special operations (ZOSOs), focused on “clear, hold and build”. The first two resemble local states of emergency, while the third involves social interventions. The two church communities I serve are located in two different ZOSOs, and I can testify from experience that there has been little or no “build” over the last two years. This is where civil society can help to bring about social change that can reduce crime, violence, and indiscipline in our land.

Churches and trusts must introduce a programme into their schools to socialise their young charges into positive values and attitudes; should it be effective, they could offer it to the Government. I know that such a move is afoot, and therefore there is hope.

More brutal repression by the state will not reduce crime, violence, and indiscipline. Those who wish Jamaica well must come together to work for behaviour change, and to change the basis on which Jamaica has been founded. If Jamaica is to become a kinder, gentler society, the behaviour of all of us – including politicians – has to change.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and development scientist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com