Heather RobinsonDURING THE last week or so, there has been a lot of talk in Jamaica about cricket, track and football. Many have been very outspoken and harsh in their criticisms of Brian Lara and the West Indies cricket team; Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell and the Reggae Boys in their match against the USA. I have always been amazed at the level of critics that sports is able to generate, and, of course, the tremendous outpouring of emotions that come with sports. I am overwhelmed at how many persons who are so critical of our sportsmen, have never played in a curry goat match, never run at their child's sports day in the egg and spoon race and who have never even played a game of scrimmage even while at school.
Yes, we have as a nation all become experts. But it is not only in sports that we are able to prescribe the perfect solution to the losing ways of the West Indies cricket team; prescribe how much more exposure Usain and Asafa needed; and, of course, who was responsible for the USA to score that 88th minute goal. Every Jamaican who is not a member of the Government or the Jamaica Constabulary Force knows how best to reduce our country's murder rate. But there are some among us who happily found the correct solution last Saturday.
COMMENDATION FOR BIG LANE
The residents of Big Lane, Central Village must be commended on two counts. Firstly, someone there or elsewhere deve-loped the courage to tell the police about the presence of some gunmen in their community. The police responded and two of the gunmen were killed with a third in hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, in this encounter Corporal Warren Smith was murdered and his colleague shot and injured. Secondly, in all the media reports, there was no outburst from the community demanding 'Justice'. Instead the citizens expressed relief at the death of the gunmen and commended the police.
The residents of Big Lane had two options available to them. Either they tell a trustworthy police officer about the presence of known murderer gunmen in their community, or they could have joined the majority group in Jamaica who simply shut up and wait on the government and the police to act.
IMAGINE A NEW JAMAICA
How many other communities are there in Jamaica like Big Lane? How many others are going to "follow back a" Big Lane? This must surely be the best time to join the line behind Big Lane. Imagine what Jamaica would be like if all those who know about the activities and presence of criminals would come forward now and tell one police officer what they know. Imagine if criminals were to begin to understand the 'new' Jamaica in which they live. No longer would a small gang of criminals be able to hold hundreds and sometimes thousands of persons hostage. Imagine a Jamaica in which the murderer, extortionists and all gunmen knew that there would be just one person willing to give the police information about them and their wicked and evil deeds.
It is really very easy to lay blame on others, in this case the Government and the police. But it is only when you honestly know that you have told the police all you know that you can continue to criticise the police and government. Is there a criminal act that you know about or been a witness to and have not told the police? Did you see who shot and murdered the three men in Linstead on Sunday night? Did you see a young man walk pass your yard carrying an illegal gun? Did you hear someone crying for help and did not call the police? If you have done nothing with the information you have, then you are among our country's most wanted. You are guilty of being a member of the silent Jamaican gang.
The most extreme action that needs to be taken now is not by the government or the police. Someone recently asked that we tell people whom we know, to stop committing criminal acts. I would like to suggest the extreme response to this request. We will not just tell them to stop, but simultaneously tell the police, so they can stop them. And we will enjoy the same emotions we did when Veronica won her gold. Have you spoken?
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
