Letter of the Day | Murders and organised crimes out of control
Published:Thursday | December 26, 2024 | 12:05 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The Gleaner reported on December 23 about the killing of Myanmar-born medical doctor in Savanna-la-Mar.
This, again, is another savage murder of a medical doctor, who for many years served the residents of Westmoreland and, from my understanding, was among the most popular and trusted medical doctors.
His murder is another powerful indication that the crime and murder problems are very much out of control in this country. What is even worse, with due respect for National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, the Government has no effective, workable, specific and practical plans in place to address crime problems, not to mention the escalating levels of drug trafficking and lottery scamming.
Jamaica remains, and very concerning for the United States government, a major cocaine and illegal gun and ammunition trans-shipment port.
This situation has in fact gotworse since the Jamaica Labour Party took office. People are not feeling safe, so they are not venturing out during night hours,negatively affecting businesses all over the country. Here in Montego Bay, various night entertainment facilities are losing business because many persons are refusing to go out, for fear of being robbed or murdered, at night.
According to the Opposition spokesman on national security, Peter Bunting, where is the Government’s crime reduction and solution plan? No such plan has been in place over the past eight years. If the security forces are not given crime reduction plans with the appropriate funding in place, then they cannot be blamed for not effectively dealing with crime. Clearly, the intelligence apparatus of the JCF needs vast improvements. Some of those police intelligence detectives should be sent overseas for further training in gathering intelligence.
Organized crimes is a J$900-billion ‘industry’, according to some estimates.
There is the need for action by the Government of Jamaica to address the high murder rate and the increasing levels of serious organised crimes; things cannot continue on this track. At this time, no one is safe, and anyone can be murdered, believe it or not.
The JCF’s clear-up rate for murders must also be improved to at least eight per cent. The question here is, why are the criminal masterminds responsible for smuggling cocaine, illegal guns and ammunition not being arrested and convicted in the courts?
Vast amounts of raw, high-grade cocaine coming into Jamaica from Colombia are being seized at various locations; however, no one is being held and charged for such a serious crime. Some answers are needed from the Government.
ROBERT DALLEY.