Mark Wignall | Mark Golding going for broke

Mark Golding is leader of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) and is one of those individuals called for greater service in honouring his country. But he knows that he plainly doesn’t have that personality to ‘move’ the mind and sway the bodies of huge numbers of people.

Caught in a captive audience of rabid PNP supporters, he is a star. Outside of that, he would leave the podium and disappear into the crowd as he heads to the nearest group of corporate bigwigs. Speaking at a press conference last Tuesday, he stated that he is giving the commissioner of police 60 days to change course in his crime-fighting strategy or consider stepping aside and allowing someone else to do the job.

As in, the PNP tried Peter Phillips and KD Knight and Francis Forbes and some also-rans and, let us not forget Peter Bunting, who bawled out for God’s help, to no avail. The JLP also had its chance to throw a commissioner or two against the wall to see if one would stick. Bobby Montague was also forced to borrow Bunting’s God.

The question facing Mark Golding is not so much whether he is genuinely searching for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration in making a significant dent in pushing back against the violent crime monster as much as he is seeking strategy to embarrass the Government.

But Golding also figured that since he was out name dropping, it made sense to lump Horace Chang (security minister) as an individual who needs to go home.

One writer gives what he believes is another truth hardly being spoken of.

“He is not the first one to fail. KD Knight, Peter Phillips, Robert Montague, Mr Nelson, and many others have failed.” What concerns me is that I am certain there has been debate in the upper echelons of the JLP about who should be security minister.

“I am certain no one in the current JLP Cabinet or duly elected to Parliament has volunteered or expressed an interest to try. So by default, Mr Chang remains. In other words, no one in the JLP cares enough about Jamaica and the overarching problem of crime.

“All those JLP ministers and elected members would just as soon sit at their current desk, expand their girth, and take no chances. They are lazy, and unmotivated, and scared. Where is their courage? That is what galls me.”

NOT EASY FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE

Every single prime minister, security minister, and commissioner of police knows of the real push on a daily basis from those who would wish for the Government to skirt close to the edge of barbarism whenever armed and fearless gang leaders tackle them with weapons of death.

But the PM is correct. As much as many fearless policemen may wish to advance their offensive sides against the young terrorists in our country, the truth is, the law does not and will never support even the best chance of concealing an extrajudicial killing. One reader suggested that the Jamaica Constabulary Force has too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Level 1 – Commissioner; Level 2 -Deputy Commissioner; Level 3 – Assistant Commissioner; Level 4 – Senior Superintendent; Level 5 – Superintendent; Level 6 – Deputy Superintendent; Level 7 – Inspector; Level 8 – Sergeant; Level 9 – Corporal; Level 10 – rank and file.

According to this reasoning, “Word from the top passes through too many levels and it is hard to hold any level accountable. Makes it easy to pass the buck. Solution: Reduce levels from 10 to five, save money, and pay more to foot soldiers.”

Over the years, many variations of ‘strategic offensive policing’ have been suggested, and obviously, all of them have been knocked aside. We have been told that it is smart policing driven mostly by good detective work and cutting-edge forensics.

Some years ago when Grants Pen was experiencing an explosion of rapes and murders, there existed a young 19-year-old gang leader who made it known that he was unafraid to take on the baddest of policemen. Well, he talked too much. One morning, a police constable walked into a lane close by and saw him brushing his teeth. Without further embellishment the constable despatched him.

Four guns were later recovered, and the story was properly sanitised.

Was it wrong? Certainly yes. Was there another way? Maybe yes, but because the iron was hot, it was firmly struck.

The problem with police death squads is that they begin easy but are hard to turn off, especially where the power becomes heady.

MIA MOTTLEY SHALL LEAD THEM

Mia Mottley has not only slashed her Cabinet but has suggested that members of parliament (MPs) spend time in their constituencies. You know, in a getting-to- know-you-all-over-again approach. It would be quite foolish for heads of government in the Caribbean to begin to model themselves after Miss Motley. By her own actions, she has made herself into a giant. Right here at home, Andrew Holness ought to recognise that the best he will ever get in seeking a do-over of his personality is the one he glances at in the mirror.

But Miss Mottley is on to something. Many Jamaican MPs do not really know their constituencies. So they are informed of the daily pain, and those who have resources can afford to throw a few dollars at the pain and run away to safety.

And then they get to go home. No one seated on the low wooden bench with brown chickens running around and mongrels fast asleep. All immersed in a new empathy. I have never been convinced that most of our MPs are there representing the genuine interests of advancing the lives of their constituents.

In many ways, the youngsters know the game. They amass the guns because they know that when the police come knocking, they have to devise the exit strategy from the world they have built up around themselves. The MP? Drinking wine uptown.

And while we are here, how about trying to convince Jamaicans that there is much to achieve in going for our republic status. Yawn is what I get whenever I interact with those at street level.

- Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.