We're on the right path

Delano Seiveright, Contributor

In my last contribution, I pointed to a story carried on the pages of noted international news publication, The Economist, on September 9, highlighting Jamaica's successes in the economy and concerning crime. I also lamented the lack of local news coverage on the tremendous successes in both areas.

The game-changing developments in the economy and crime and violence under the leadership of the present Government and the almost negligent conduct of media practitioners towards both is reprehensible, but not surprising.

No one can doubt that the Christopher 'Dudus' Coke extradition and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips issues are newsworthy stories but the almost constant rehashing of these dead issues is not only boring, but also unnecessary. Furthermore, the constant use of partisan 'commentators' and 'analysts' adds insult to injury.

brief profile outlines

I recall countless radio and TV talkshow programmes that, to this day, bring on commentators and analysts making absolutely no mention of noteworthy aspects of their 'profiles'. As is standard with international news media outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, NPR and some prominent print publications, a brief outline of key areas of the commentator's profile is spelled out for the audience's benefit. As such, members of the audience will be fairly cognisant of possible political, commercial or other biases.

I again call on media practitioners, as a matter of course, to outline a brief profile of their guests who are assigned titles like 'commentator', 'political analyst', 'financial analyst' and so on.

On the other hand, is it not amazing that the huge successes in curtailing Jamaica's world record homicide and other major crime rates have received little attention from the news media? Since the implementation of a limited state of emergency in late May 2010, and a consequent sustained assault on crime and violence by the police and army, Jamaica has recorded a major reduction in the rates of murder, shooting, carnal abuse, robbery and other crimes. Murders have dropped by as much as 50 per cent in some instances. For instance, there were 87 fewer murders in June 2010 when compared with May 2010, a decrease of 49 per cent.

crime the albatross

For over 35 years, crime and violence have been an albatross around the necks of all Jamaicans. Jamaica has, for many years, ranked consistently in the top five most murderous countries on the planet. The interplay of a possibly increasingly violent culture, high levels of social marginalisation and inequity, poverty, low education levels, drug trafficking, corruption, a weak and burdened criminal justice system and poor governance gelled to almost condemn Jamaica to a state of perennial violence and rampant criminality.

Just up to a few months ago, four or five murders per day was 'normal'. The extremely high levels of crime and violence have, in the last 10 years, taken the lives of over 15,000 Jamaicans and have maimed and disrupted the lives and livelihoods of thousands more. Almost every Jamaican is a victim in some way, shape or form.

Jamaica's growth and development has also been stunted in part by our astronomical rates of crime and violence. We should recall a 2007 United Nations report pointing out that if Jamaica could reduce violent crime to Costa Rica's low level, economic growth could be boosted by 5.4 per cent. Crime and violence have also contributed to the flight of our professional and middle classes to greener pastures over the last 35 years.

Every Jamaican knows that crime and violence are big problems, and that something needs to be done.

Interestingly, it took the extradition saga involving Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to bring the country to the point of effectively taking on criminality up front. The limited state of emergency instituted right after armed thugs launched an assault on the State by murdering and shooting policemen and razing and attacking police stations, among other nefarious activities, marked the beginning of a new page in Jamaica's history. The limited state of emergency gave the police and army breathing room to effectively carry out operations and strategies that successfully stymied criminal activities in several areas.

psychological impact

Furthermore, the psychological impact on criminal elements cannot be discounted as, to this day, the criminals who are still out there and armed to the teeth are, judging by the fall-off in major crimes, clearly less likely to carry out their usual misdeeds.

Amazingly, for the first time in decades, many Jamaicans feel a sense of confidence in being able to tackle the scourge of crime and violence successfully. However, what is most disappointing is the confused positioning on the issue by the Opposition and paltry coverage of the successes by the news media and the need for all Jamaicans to continue to unite in a resolve to beat back the tide.

I am deeply concerned that people are already losing focus and the worst can be expected. The good men and women of the police and army need significant and unwavering support in their drive to make Jamaica safe for all of us.

The positions of the People's National Party (PNP) on the recent sustained and coordinated crime-fighting strategies are very unfortunate. In July 2010, Generation 2000 (G2K) issued a strident statement expressing the view that the People's National Party (PNP) was intent on "derailing what has, so far, been a successful coordinated assault against crime and violence". This position is fully justified in light of their non-support of long-discussed anti-crime bills, the state of emergency and its extensions recommended by the security forces, and their continued failure to put forward credible alternatives.

Instead, G2K believed that the PNP spends too much energy at "spewing rhetoric clearly aimed at destabilising" an already challenged country. It is my hope that when it comes to crime and violence, politics will take a back seat at all times.

We certainly have a lot of work ahead of us. Despite the premature ending of the limited state of emergency, major crimes continue to trend down. Political leaders, civil society and media practitioners should, as a matter of course, doggedly follow through on critical short- and medium-term measures required to continue the sustained reduction in crime and violence:

These include:

The reform of the police force with critical improvements to its human, financial and technical resources. The army must also benefit from increased resource allocation.

Sustained social-intervention programmes with increased funding, better targeted and with improved allotment of resources.

The current and so far successful economic programme focused on correcting ingrained maladies and ultimately fostering economic growth and development.

Consensus-building with civil society and the Opposition in the interest of all Jamaicans.

Enacting reforms set out by Prime Minister Golding and broad-based civil society groupings (including the dismantling of garrison communities and campaign finance reform) that should dramatically improve governance and the rule of law.

The complete de-linking of politics and crime.

The road ahead is rough but at least we are on the right path. Let's not lose focus.

Delano Seiveright is president of Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professionals' affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party.