Webster EdwardsWE CAN no longer pretend that things are normal in this country. Jamaica is a nation in crisis; society is threatened with disorder, and the situation must now be arrested if we are going to save this nation from total disintegration.
Each day the demonic forces of terror continue unabated. It must now be admitted that constituted authority has failed in its effort to restore normality. Yet as citizens of this country we certainly deserve better. We dutifully pay our taxes and surrender certain basic personal rights with the expectation that we will be provided with a secure environment in which to live.
The fact is that there is no other country in this part of the world which is experiencing a similar escalation in the rate of homicide. Already, since the beginning of the year more than 950 persons have been murdered, residents of some communities have been displaced, personal property has been destroyed and the society is engulfed in an unprecedented aura of fear.
The real tragedy is that the perpetrators of these brutal acts have mastered a strategy for avoiding detection, and have succeeded in neutralising the system of justice.
The result is that people will not speak about the dastardly acts which they have witnessed because they know that in the inner city, punishment for informers by thugs or their accomplices, is not only swift and certain but is very often extended to the offender's relatives and friends. On the other hand, there is the perception among many, that the security forces are fighting a losing battle. The fact is, that with each passing day, the situation is deteriorating rapidly, and if the present trend continues, it will only be a matter of time before the entire society is thrown into utter confusion.
Yet against this background, very little is heard from those in authority. This is alarming as it conveys the message that what is being experienced is totally beyond the control of the administration.
Well, we are not a country at war, yet guns in the hands of thugs have become more and more sophisticated, and they do not seem to be short of the necessary target practice.
Recent events have proven that there is no doubt that the forces of illegality now have sufficient weapons and firepower to keep the constituted authority at bay. All that is needed now is a strategy and a leader with some organisational ability to plunge this nation into irretrievable ruin.
A new approach to counteract the present reign of terror is urgently needed, as the old methods of detection and containment have failed to have any meaningful effect on the perpetrators at large. Criminals now have the upper hand as they know no fear, neither have they got to wait for the cover of darkness to engage in their nefarious activities.
The truth is, that we cannot create a healthy economic climate while a significant percentage of the population continue to live in fear. Innocent people travelling to public institutions in broad daylight must carefully choose the route on which to travel, as one wrong turn into hostile territory can sometimes result in instant death.
Where do we go from here? The time has come when the security forces must seek to infiltrate these groups in order to gather intelligence of their operations. It is also an indictment on the constituted authority that small identifiable communities can successfully conceal their weapons then use them openly in broad daylight without any fear of detection or arrest.
Yet, as residents of this country we all have got a part to play. What is needed now is a broad-based alliance of citizens dedicated to entrap those who are involved in this reign of terror. We can begin by forming small cells of people in vulnerable communities dedicated to counteract those who are opposed to the rule of law.
Finally, there must be a national consensus among our politicians against crime. They must be prepared to expose wrongdoers and distance themselves from being either direct or indirect beneficiaries of the largesse or influence of community wrongdoers. Towards this end one must agree with those who have expressed the sentiment that prayer should never be seen as a substitute for effective action. And the time for not only leadership, but prudent and well thought out action is now.
Webster Edwards is Executive Director of Operation Friendship.
