Alfred Dawes | Am I a reader man, or is it too easy to predict?

Some weeks I struggle to select a topic on which to write my column. Then there are weeks such as this past one, where visiting at least a dozen topics makes the decision equally difficult. The events that occurred last week are in themselves nothing to raise an eyebrow about in Jamaica.

What makes this week stand out is simply because they all happened in close enough proximity, to overshadow each other, rendering this just another sign of the times. Taken by themselves we would have gone on to conduct our business as usual. We have become blunted by the constant reports of violence in our society.

Finding four bodies in a shallow grave, clearly the victims of jungle justice based on reports that they were caught stealing, barely caused a flicker on our outrage metre. There was just too much to occupy us. From melting runways to collapsing governments, this past week was a doomsday prepper’s ‘I told you so’ dream. The fulfilment of prophecies? Or is it simply the inevitability of these events occurring in the world in which we live?

COMMON PRACTICE

Bike robber shot dead in a foiled attack. Nothing to see here. We know that this is a common practice. It has even reached uptown parking lots. I have spoken about the lawlessness prevalent in the realm of motorcyclists. This is not an indictment on all bike owners, but an observation that the authorities have lost all control over the policing of motorbikes. The impound lots in western Jamaica are filled with confiscated motorcycles, but this does not deter their owners from getting replacement unlicensed, uninsured bikes. As they are largely untraceable, cheap and versatile as getaway vehicles, bikes are perfect for hitmen and petty thieves. As there is no concrete plan in place to rein in mounted criminals, it is not a prophecy, but a promise that we will see more stories involving bike robbers and murderers.

Firearm holders trading bullets in the middle of Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay. What did you expect when there continues to be reports and leaks of questionable characters being granted firearm licences? One wonders what it will take before the much-needed external review of the practices of the Firearm Licensing Authority is commissioned and the results made public for the chips to fall where they may. It is concerning that the recent public spat involving persons with intimate knowledge of the review process never triggered an investigation into the appalling allegations made by both parties. This most recent manifestation of a systemic flaw in the granting of gun licences will be another nine-day wonder so stay tuned for more controversies surrounding licensed firearm holders.

The story breaking about a young social media influencer, Donna-Lee Donaldson, being missing occupied most of the news cycle and social media feeds. This is understandable. Something seems fishy with the official story. Where was she last seen and what is the deal with the couch and garbage truck? One has to be careful not to cast aspersions as to the guilt of the parties at the forefront of the discussions, but we need to drill deeper into what is causing the outrage in the streets and on social media. We do not have to dig far. It was the way the investigation was initially handled by the police.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

In a country where high-profile crimes have gone unsolved when certain professions and names are involved, the population is already primed for conspiracy theories. Some of the allegations in the public domain would be libellous if printed here. However, if the hearsay is to be believed, the perceived slow pace of the investigation before the protests began looks like a cover-up. This focused even more attention on the defendants in the court of public opinion. Whether or not the perpetrators of what appears to be a heinous crime are brought to justice, the spotlights are once again on the investigative capacity of the police force.

After reportedly being spotted at her boyfriend’s apartment, according to the missing person’s bulletin by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, she was reportedly last seen at her apartment. Of course, that seems to many the beginnings of a cover-up story. Sometimes bad optics are enough to derail any noble efforts. This was one such example. Quickly the conspiracy theory spread like wildfire even though the investigation was under way, that the police were not focusing on the obvious persons and places in the search for the missing woman. This was for far too many too easy to believe because of the history of bungling and sabotaging of investigations by the force.

Again, if we dig deep enough we will realise that the root of the public outrage is against the perceived corruption in the police force, fertilised by the raw empathy for what is seeming to be, with each passing day, a brutal murder. We can expect more of this aggression against investigative officers until we see the overhaul of the force from top to bottom. This does not require soothsayer abilities. The system will continue to produce enough incidents of corruption in the force to justify the tar and feathering of the good cops by the court of public opinion.

The slaughter of another family in St Ann was barely mentioned. After all, only three were killed on a busy news day. Just another symptom of the cancer in our society. Just another product of the system that assures violence producers of their ability to escape justice.

Just another easy prediction comes true. Support your local reader man by subscribing to The Gleaner to get access to his predictions.

Dr Alfred Dawes is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, CEO of Windsor Wellness Centre. Follow him on Twitter @dr_aldawes. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and adawes@ilapmedical.com.