The security forces need to be commended for the work done and the success achieved that led to the reduction in major crimes such as rape, shooting and murder in the month of June when compared with last year.
The dismantling of the criminal network and nerve centre in Tivoli, the targeting of gangs and persons of interest, the use of emergency powers to search without warrant, the recovery of guns and ammunition and the effective use of cordon and search have contributed to this state of affairs.
Equally significant is the confidence in our security forces to protect Jamaicans and make us feel safe.
As Commissioner Owen Ellington has said, before the incursion into Tivoli most Jamaicans believed that the security forces were not capable to withstand these armed militia. There were stories about the blowing up of Jamaica Public Service power lines and Petrojam if a warrant was executed on alleged drug dealer and gun smuggler, Christopher Coke. The security forces have demonstrated that they have the firepower to thwart any criminal network.
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) under Major General Stewart Saunders, the chief of defence staff, ought to be specially commended. From last year November, courtesy of RJR's forum, he made recommendations based on analysis of Jamaica's crime situation. On November 26, 2009, in an article entitled 'Supporting Stewart Saunders' I said, "he at once displayed to Jamaica what the problem is and what the solution could be. It is obvious that there are hard nosed criminals, well equipped, well funded and well trained, who are ruthless and fearless and a different type of strategy apart from community policing is needed. These leaders of criminal networks hold communities hostage. They murder people, they rape girls, they use boys and engage in gun smuggling and sales. There is need for a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team that will police these areas."
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Swat team
Perhaps the security operations was not as a precise as a SWAT team.And the security forces ought to be accountable and transparent.On my visits to sections of Tivoli and Kirkland Heights, it was obvious that mistakes were made.In Tivoli it was a very frightening experience for the elderly. My (church) members who live in the Kirkland Heights community and who are retired persons are still traumatised. They believed that the security forces went to the wrong address as it relates to the death of Keith Clarke. Too many unfortunate statements are made surrounding the killing of Clarke and it needs closure or at least an update on the status of the investigations. Hopefully, questions and criticisms of the security forces are not perceived as attacks.
In 2004, when Dr Peter Phillips was minister of national security, he invited some clergymen to rally support of the Kingfish initiative. Persons such as Al Miller, Richard Albert, Rennard White were present. I made the allegation that the People's National Party administration lacked the political will to clean up the Jamaica Constabulary Force because at that time there was the suggestion that 40 per cent of the force should go because of corruption. He disagreed with my analysis and stated that 40 per cent was no magic number. I believe that every government must be asked the hard questions and should offer honest, logical and cogent responses.
The police have also shown that they will not be dictated to concerning which political constituency will be searched. That is a new and welcome development.They have also named many persons of interest, including a pastor and popular deejay. When will we hear of prominent politicians, private-sector leaders and police personnel being persons of interest? When that happens, we can be assured that the trend downwards of major crimes will continue.
Yes, we need to celebrate the security forces and co-operate with them to the best of our ability.
Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
