No shotgun solutions to crime
Published:Wednesday | January 15, 2014 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
When citizens become engaged in discussions regarding the future of their country, especially dealing with such matters as violent crime, it must be a healthy sign, and one that should be encouraged in a democracy such as ours.
For anyone, therefore, to suggest that only the experts, journalists and our political masters are entitled to publicly offer their opinions or solutions smacks of arrogance.
It is accepted that there are short-term, as well as mid- to long-term, solutions for dealing with violent crime. However, we ought to be careful with our short-term solutions, as far too often they are measures that trample on the rights of ordinary Jamaicans; a typical measure is the 'shoot-first-ask-questions-later' philosophy or measures driven not by intelligence but purely by desperation.
When dealing with crime, we also have a tendency to become complacent with short-term measures, to the exclusion of the mid- to long-term solutions. Of course, short-term crime solutions are just that - they last until the next upsurge in crime, and then we are obliged to repeat the measures over and over again, probably with greater degrees of force and the possible slaughter of innocent Jamaicans.
living in fear
Those who advocate that we give the police some sort of green light to smash gangs or wipe out suspected criminals without regard for due process, and that there should be no criticism of the police because crime is out of control and the criminals have us living in fear, should be reminded of the saying, 'If they come for me in the morning, they'll come for you at night.'
As an ordinary Jamaican, I am now recommending once again to our political leaders that they select the following simply stated aim for dealing with crime: Reduce crime in 2014.
Now, what are the factors that could prevent them accomplishing that aim? I believe the main factor is the Jamaica Constabulary Force, especially its ineffective intelligence capabilities and its weak leadership qualities.
Other contributing factors include violent gangs, the criminal-justice system, politics, public confidence, and socio-economic issues. Having studied these factors, we should be able to deduce from each what needs to be done. That should then form our plan. Try it. We have nothing to lose, because it appears we have been operating without a plan, or certainly with a failed one, for some time!
ALLAN DOUGLAS
Kingston