David Abrikian | Collective efforts needed to tackle crime

For some time now there has been a continuum of statements, requests, urgings, that have emphasised the need for a collective and collaborative national effort in order to effectively address the crime situation in Jamaica.

And there is no doubt that this kind of unified effort is something that will be absolutely essential if any success in such an initiative is to succeed.

In the not too distant past a letter by Wade Brown, vice president of Young Jamaica, titled “Collective responsibility to curb crime” also expressed similar sentiments regarding a combined national effort, and I commend him for his optimism and enthusiasm. As a potential party leader, maintaining an approach that focuses on what is best for the nation, together with an attitude overflowing with hope and energy, will be invaluable.

However, unlike what he has alluded to in his letter, there appears to be no indication that the majority of guns have been taken off the street, as shootings and homicides appear to continue unabated with no indicators pointing to a reduction in illegal guns.

Further, although here is no doubt that all Jamaica would love to see the homicide rate drop drastically, and if his model of a compounded 16 per cent annual reduction leading to an over 40 per cent decrease in three years was actualised, all Jamaica would rejoice, there is however no reliable indicator that points to this.

This is not said to dampen his spirit in any way, but to caution him on the importance of being realistic when sizing up a situation. Without a realistic appraisal it will be impossible to successfully and sustainably address any challenge.

The thing that I really commend him for however, is his emphasis on collective action regarding the effort against crime. He has urged social groups, organisations, and communities to step up and “do their part”, and has correctly stated the need for collective involvement.

COLLABORATION

An article in The Gleaner titled “Holness reinforces collaborative effort needed to fight crime” described how PM Andrew Holness emphasised the need for collaboration and partnership in the effort against crime.

This almost echoed the earlier words of his junior party leader, and this collaborative effort is clearly an indispensable prerequisite, a necessary condition, a vital factor, for any effort against crime.

However, both the party leader and his junior have omitted the critical, most important, and absolutely essential component in any collective effort to address crime, without which their words would tend to sound hollow, and without which the crime situation in Jamaica will never be addressed. This missing component is the collaborative effort between the two main political parties, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP).

Going back in history, it was in the 60s following Independence that the increased conflicts between the political parties led to the momentous launch of violent, politically-associated gangs. From these beginnings the proliferation of gang activity grew and developed, leading to our present situation.

Right now, it is widely held that there are lingering residual links between the two parties and the two major gangs in the country, who themselves control many of the smaller gangs. Some will say that the links are more than residual. Regardless however, once these links remain in any form, even if only alleged or conceptual, all the SOEs, ZOSOs, and the like will ultimately fail.

With all the initiatives relating to social intervention and transformation, which are undoubtedly needed and completely essential, if there is no perceived and actual political transformation, any sustained social transformation will not take place. As a glaring example that was 50 years in the making, how can a community that remains part of a “garrison” constituency, transform and progress healthily?

Although we are weary of reminiscing on this, it is still the awful truth that although Jamaica, in 1962, was among the most peaceful countries in the world, by means of the aggressive, divisive, and violence–prone politics, we “graduated” in 2005 to the highest homicide rate in the world, and have never left the top ten since then.

WAR WITH OURSELVES

Sadly, we are at war with ourselves and it is a distinctive type of war, not against external foes, nor is it a civil war, but rather a unique type of war that only Jamaican “ingenuity” and “creativity”, used in the wrong way, could have produced.

As a start, it is critical that the two parties find the inner strength to face up to the reality that exists and combine to see how the situation can be addressed.

Someone once asked “how can the initiators/perpetrators/facilitators of a wrong be credibly asked to solve it?” If that analogy is applicable here the answer is that the same so-called initiators need to transform to become solution finders.

What is needed is a solemn, genuine effort between the two parties, to seriously examine together the entire gang situation, including its origins, development, and current status and, continuing over time, to assess, identify and implement the solution.

Successive Governments over the years have attempted to deal with the situation themselves without help from the opposition, and have failed, and failure will continue unless there is a combined effort from both parties.

So now the question goes to the JLP Government “Are you willing to meet with the PNP Opposition to put the country above party and get down to brass tacks to address the most important problem in today’s Jamaica”.

And a similar question goes to the PNP Opposition “Are you willing to meet with the JLP Government, to likewise collaborate and cooperation to address the crime. And further, if you win the next election will you do that?” For if you do become the Government that will be necessary in order to address the crime.

Do the two major parties really want what is best for Jamaica? Let us see a real collective effort.

David Abrikian is a civil engineer. Send feedback to dpabrikian@yahoo.com.