Holness: Target dons and their ‘jingbangs’ will flee
Published:Thursday | December 5, 2024 | 12:08 AMCorey Robinson/Senior Staff Reporter
Though the social issues are many – from unstable houses to decrepit roadways and overflowing sewage that has plagued his constituency for decades – Prime Minister Andrew Holness believes that the erection of an Olympic Way Community Cultural Centre is another symbol of upliftment for St Andrew West Central.
Ground was broken yesterday for the $127-million facility, which will be built over nine months through a partnership with the Culture, Health, Arts, and Education (CHASE) Fund. The building will be able to house between 500 and 700 people, serve as a cultural and entertainment hub, and also double as a shelter during natural disasters.
It heads the list of at least two housing projects, a promised 20-room golden-age home, and a long-needed sewage system that Holness hopes will bolster the cultural offerings and push Jamaicans to relocate to the area described as having affordable housing solutions and offer an easy commute to business hubs in the Corporate Area.
But there is one major problem, and that is crime.
“You have a voters’ list in Olympic Gardens of over 30,000. How many of them do you think are criminals? Are murderers? I can tell you that it is not more than 20,” charged Holness as supporters who turned out to the groundbreaking ceremony sang his praises, promising a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) victory at the next general election.
“You have some jingbangs that follow around them that when the dons are gone, the jingbangs will run away. But the real hardcore criminals, there are not more than 20, and if you were able to target those 20, it would release the 30,000 people who are suffering under them, people who are captured by them, destroying the community.”
‘Robin Hood’
Holness reiterated his stance that for too long, communities have idolised gangsters through a sort of ‘Robin Hood’ philosophy that ultimately undermines effective familial and community safety principles. He said that the Government has built out the strategic direction for national security, invested in the police, and is focused on eradicating gangs, which commit some 80 per cent of the nation’s murders.
He argued that if Jamaicans, and particularly Olympic Way residents, can dissociate themselves from gangs, then the tally of murders on the island would be significantly reduced. He charged that now is the time to focus on getting rid of those gangs and urged residents who turned out that while they may be related to some of the criminals, they need to dissociate themselves from their wayward activities and lifestyles.
The country cannot afford persons whose aim is to protect criminal elements, the prime minister added.
“Whatever mechanism and strategy we put in place, we will always allow people, who, by virtue of their social situation, are caught up with the gangs, to extricate themselves from the gangs. Who we are interested in are the masterminds, the people who pull the trigger. Those are the ones that we want,” said Holness.
“A little youngster who gets caught up [in crime], we can make the investment in you to divert you from the gang pathway. But those hardened ones must face the full consequence of the law. The society must develop an unambiguous, definitive approach: ‘We do not support the gangsters. Get rid of them’,” he said as he promised to tackle the issue through stiff legislation and dedicated law enforcement.
Billy Heaven, chief executive officer of the CHASE Fund, said the Olympic Way Community and Cultural Centre is the 22nd such facility constructed in 11 parishes across the island at a cost of $413 million. At the same time, Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sports, described such centres as assets that play a crucial role in the development of the communities.
The centres provide a space for members to dialogue together, access essential services such as healthcare, education, skills building; and foster social cohesion, Grange said in a speech delivered in her absence by Leslie Heron, executive director of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.
“This project has been in the making for quite some time, from 2019 perhaps. But then came COVID-19 and that set back a lot of things. Plus, there were some logistic issues as well,” shared Heaven. “But, today we are here not just to break ground and start the pre-construction phase. We are here to hand over the project to the firm to build. There is no other waiting time for this project. What we will see in the next nine months or so is a community that serves the community well.”
In the meantime, however, Holness expressed concern regarding the operating costs that will be associated with the new centre, explaining that on several occasions he has had to beg utility companies such as the Jamaica Public Service to write off debts that had befallen similar community centres.
“When we do this facility, I want us to consider that we implement an off-grid solar system, still tied to the grid, but that will be able to supply the electricity needs so that the considerations for operational expenditures do not become prohibitive.”