SOEs are not the answer
Published:Monday | December 12, 2022 | 5:28 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
If the government has to impose states of emergencies (SOEs) in order to stop or slow down bloodletting in Jamaica, then it means that murder and mayhem is at an unprecedented level. Why is this so? Why have gangs been allowed to flourish, for so long, been able to successfully import illegal weapons through our ports for so long? How have they been allowed to extort businesses for so long? Allowed to live lavishly? and been closely connected to politicians and/or the two major political parties?
Criminal dons of the past have become household names in this country. Why is this so? Jim Brown, Bulbie, Joel Andem, Zeeks and Dudus are more well known than some of the island’s leading athletes, footballers, actors and actresses, singers, and business leaders.
It seems to me that money, greed, lust for power, lies, cover-ups and hypocrisy are at the root of the answer to this bizarre and billion-dollar question.
Last, it seems that the implementation of SOEs are a convenient and temporary solution to the aforementioned disturbing and inconvenient questions.
I recall, in a court scene from the film, A Few Good Men, a heated exchange between Tom Cruise (Lt. Daniel Kaffee) and Jack Nicholson (Colonel Nathan Jessop), as follows:
JN : “You want answers?”
TC : “I think I’m entitled”
JN : “You want answers?”
TC : “I want the truth?”
JN : “You can’t handle the truth!”.
PATRICK GALLIMORE