Michelle-Ann Letman, Gleaner Writer

The lack of political will was identified as one of the main hindrances to reducing the country's crime rate during a meeting between media representatives and members of the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) this week.

The forum was held on Thursday at the Knutsford Court hotel under the theme, 'Violence and its Impact on Our Children - The Influence of Media.'

Jenni Campbell, managing editor of The Gleaner Company Ltd., noted that unless there is political will to change, things will remain the same, despite all the meetings and the possible solutions discussed.

Professor Barry Chevannes was in agreement with Ms. Campbell.

Politics still embedded in crime

"Political will plays a very important role in reducing the country's crime rate because politics is still embedded in crime, especially that of homicide," he told The Gleaner.

On a related issue, reporter Michael Pryce spoke of the growing and profitable business of organised crime.

He contended that the 'so-called peace' that is in Spanish Town, marked by seeming unity between the two main political gangs, 'One Order' and 'Clansman' was a cover up for their expanding business of extortion.

The 'One Order' and 'Clansman' gangs, which are from opposing ends of the political landscape - the former being associated with the Jamaica Labour Party and the latter the People's National Party - were once rivals in the Old Capital, with many reported cases of homicide linked to either gang. Over the past year the two have united in an effort to maintain 'order' in Spanish Town.

Jamaica has one of the highest crime rates in the world with the death toll for 2007 passing the 1,500 mark.

Several causes and solutions

According to anthropologist Nadyia Figueroa, the issue of crime and violence has several causes and solutions, as there are several social and economic issues that surround the problem of crime and violence.

She told The Gleaner that everyone should take responsibility for the problem of crime in Jamaica and stop pointing fingers and playing the blame game.

According to members of the VPA, the media also has a role to play in helping in the prevention and reduction of crime and violence in the society.

A study conducted by Gloria Royale Davis in 2003 among 120 incarcerated youngsters and students of schools in Kingston ages 7-17 years old, revealed that media does influence violent behaviour.

Royale Davis found that television violence influenced youngsters who from early in their childhood had a deep affinity for television and violence portrayed in that medium.

She disclosed that all the participants in the study admitted to copying or modelling violence seen on television.