THE EDITOR, Sir:
GOVERNMENT announcements concerning the relocation of the Offices of the Commissioner of Police and the acquisition of the former location by the National Housing Trust, shows, on the contrary, not a primary concern with crime and criminality, but a willingness to accommodate the wishes of those with power who have decided that this is prime real estate, too good to be used for a piddling thing such as the offices of the chief of police and would be better off being used for opulent housing for the rich and well connected.
I am yet to be convinced that the relocation of the police headquarters to North Street has anything to do with crime. More than likely, (I stand corrected) this has everything to do with providing expensive, desirable housing, as a first cause, for the scions of the wealthy.
Government and the NHT have realised that all the choice, large, open, residential spaces have been built and that the former police headquarters represents one of maybe three really meaningful locations left in the city.
To justify the move, and without seeming to minimise the import of crime, Government must claim that the police have been redeployed to take the flight to the criminals.
And we are stupid enough to believe that the mere relocation of the chief and his forces will be sufficient to reduce the crime rate, for crime and criminals live in the inner city.
Haw! Haw! None of the big criminals live uptown!
I am, etc.,
CLIVE OCNACUWENGA
Gregory Park, St.Catherine
