Editorial | We hope it is not too late, Mr Ahmad

Britain’s high commissioner to Jamaica, Asif Ahmad, has echoed the sentiments of many Jamaicans – if the Government responded to the crime problem with the same zeal with which it initiated measures to stem the spread of coronavirus pandemic outbreak, the country would be much safer.

The desire for a safe and more peaceful Jamaica is at the top of nearly everyone’s wish list. It is acknowledged that a safer Jamaica will boost the confidence of locals to invest in their country and will attract foreign direct investment and also encourage persons in the diaspora who ache for a stake in their island home to contribute tangibly. The sad reality is that the country’s homicide rates have been rising since 2014, with 1,326 murders recorded last year.

Concerns about Jamaica’s stubborn crime problem appeared to weigh heavily on Ahmad’s mind when he lamented the disparity of government spending in inner-city communities during an interview with this newspaper late last year.

He laid out the case for greater investment in infrastructure works in areas that are deemed marginalised and also suggested that there should be a national crime plan.

And, yes, at the onset of the pandemic, the Government’s response was judged to be effective in containing the spread while keeping the number of COVID-19-related deaths relatively low. Opening up the borders in June exposed more Jamaicans to virus-carrying individuals, and the number of cases started to climb.

THERE IS HOPE

More concerning, however, is the fact that in the last few days, the election campaign roadshows appear to have undermined the importance of the Ministry of Health’s ‘stay-at-home’ message, as well as its recommended social-distancing protocols. The result has been a spike in cases.

But there is hope. There are more than 165 COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed across the world as scientists race to find a safe and effective treatment for this virus. The race is so intense that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned people to be on the lookout for fake or faulty COVID-19 medicines.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has promised that if his party is re-elected, the Government would offer free vaccines to its citizens. That is an election promise he would most definitely be held to. A government spokesman revealed that there are already ongoing negotiations with the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that Jamaica secures a space in what is expected to be a long queue.

We are assured, therefore, that, as far COVID-19 is concerned, with a vaccine being launched, the country could reasonably expect to overcome the effects of the virus in a short time. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.

This may not be so, however, with crime. While coronavirus forced many to remain at home, there was no holiday for the criminals. Reports of murders, shootings, robberies, hold-ups, and car thefts continue to scare people in various neighbourhoods.

WORK IN TANDEM

The Government declared states of emergency (SOEs) and zones of special operations (ZOSOs) in the hardest-hit parishes in 2018 as it tried to grapple with crime and violence. These SOEs and ZOSOs were renewed periodically and remained in effect for nearly three years. The mission of these security operations to disrupt gangs, seize weapons, and detain criminals had only limited success.

But Ahmad seems to think the model that has been used to fight the coronavirus could work for crime, which calls for the Government and Opposition to work in tandem. In the case of the pandemic, it was agreed that the wearing of masks, sanitisation, frequent handwashing, social distancing, and staying home were all important steps to prevent the spread. The leaders of both parties and officials were seen wearing their masks and were encouraging others to do the same.

Let’s now agree on the decisive, effective, and sustainable initiatives that are necessary to defeat the virus of crime, which has seeped into every nook and cranny of this island.

For our collective sakes, we hope it is not too late.