Letter of the Day | Name and shame those sponsoring criminal underworld!
Published:Saturday | May 31, 2025 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The recent seizure of over 200 illegal firearms and a substantial cache of ammunition in Jamaica is more than just a police success, it is a lifeline extended to over 1,000 Jamaicans who might otherwise have become victims of senseless violence. This massive find must not be treated as just another headline, but a stark reminder of what is at stake: the soul of our nation.
Commendation is due to the vigilant law enforcement officers, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), and citizens who refused to turn a blind eye. Their bravery and diligence disrupted what could have been another bloody chapter.
They are the silent heroes standing between chaos and community. This act of precision and courage is not just a victory, it is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to achieving its goal of reducing murders to below 1,000 in 2025. Each successful interception brings us closer to that target, and to a safer, more hopeful Jamaica.
However, while we applaud the heroes, we must not ignore the villains , the well-dressed financiers and silent facilitators of this carnage. These weapons did not arrive by accident. Poor, uneducated young men are not the ones importing arms concealed in industrial equipment. These operations are funded, coordinated, and shielded by individuals with deep pockets and darker motives.
We must name, shame and arrest those who sponsor and sustain the criminal underworld. Those who pay for these weapons, those who grease palms, those who treat gangs as tools for influence and intimidation, these are not misguided citizens. They are enemies of the state. Their support for crime is not passive, it is deliberate, and it is deadly.
Jamaica cannot afford to be polite in the face of treason. Let this be a turning point, not just for law enforcement, but for our national consciousness. Let us rise with one voice to demand that the masterminds behind the mayhem face justice with the same force and urgency shown in this historic operation.
One gun off the street is one life potentially saved. Two hundred guns? One thousand futures restored. But, until we cut off the head of this snake, the financial and ideological support behind the criminal empire, seizures like this will remain temporary victories in a long, painful war.
We can, we must, and by God’s grace we will! Amen!
REV COURTNEY FAULKNOR