Lambert Brown, Contributor
Last Saturday, a one-year-old baby girl was murdered in August Town, St Andrew. No name was given for this child. Her right to a name was not even recognised by the media. For many, she is simply another statistic - An innocent toddler shot by criminal gunmen who remain at large and free to kill more innocent citizens with impunity.
Last Sunday, one newspaper reported that 17 other persons had been murdered over the weekend. Since the start of this year, over 540 of our citizens have been victims of the marauding cult of murderers trampling our constitutional and God-given right to life.
Our political leaders from both parties, over many years, have failed miserably to protect our citizens from the heartless and brutal criminals who are reigning supreme over our communities and country. Political tribalism has undoubtedly contributed to the domination of many communities by criminal gunmen and to the decay of once-thriving, vibrant and beautiful neighbourhoods. No number of excuses or denials by our politicians can disguise the reality that either by commission or omission, our politics is responsible for the sorry state in which our country now stands.
Cut umbilical cord
There can be no denying that politicians from all parties have relied on community enforcers and dons to outvote political opponents or restrict political campaigning in some areas. Over time, this reliance has morphed into unwitting, and sometimes 'witting', support for the criminal underworld. The recent comments by a senior police officer indicating that criminal gangs seek to associate with political parties, is consistent with the truth. It is a truth to which all honest politicians must now openly admit.
It is, therefore, time for our politicians of all colours to face up to this reality and take the necessary steps to cut the umbilical cord that sustains the high crime rate in the country. These criminals, and in particular the murderers, cannot survive without the tacit support of the communities in which they live and operate. There can be no doubt that people in these 'war torn' communities know the murderers by name, as well as their whereabouts. However, they feel powerless and fear death if they co-operate with the security forces by exposing these murderers. They also falsely believe that these gunmen are necessary evils to protect them and their communities from gunmen coming from other areas to attack them.
It is this equation of a sense of powerlessness and false belief that gunmen are protectors that our leaders must solve if we are to significantly reduce murders in particular, and crime in general. The regurgitation of old and failed measures of the past just will not solve the problem of crime. We have to empower our citizens relative to the criminals. We have to eliminate the sense of dependence citizens now feel they must place in criminals to live in their community of choice.
Urgent actions
Solving this equation requires urgent actions across party lines and the involvement of all citizens of goodwill who love this piece of paradise we call Jamaica. It is time for a surge of a united Jamaica against criminality. The criminals are a minority and are made strong only by a divided nation. A united Jamaica with the will to become peaceful and prosperous can crush the criminal minority and recover our blessed country for the good of the current and future generations.
Our united effort should start with our Parliament taking the lead. Let Parliament dedicate at least two full days every six months to focus solely on solutions to the problem of crime. Let these discussions be carried live on radio and television like the Budget Debate. Let the members of Parliament be free of party control and speak freely as representatives of their constituencies. Let the voters judge the quality of representation being made on their behalf. The Parliament has the power to determine how to revise the Budget to focus on the solution of our number-one problem. The security forces will know that they are not alone in this fight.
The citizens will begin to feel that they have the support of the country's leaders against the criminals. The much-needed social interventions could truly take place in the targeted communities. Every six months, our Parliament, like a laser beam, would be focused on reviewing progress in the crusade against criminals, setting new goals and taking decisions to make our nation safer, thus improving the image of our country as a place to live, visit and do business.
Economic growth
Reduction of crime would auto-matically result in an enhancement of economic growth and a reduction in the cost of treating criminal-related trauma in the health sector. The high stress levels suffered by our workers, be they the security force, the health sector, teachers, factory, agricultural, blue-collar or white-collar workers, would be significantly reduced and replaced by a surge in productivity.
In addition to the action of our politicians, the rest of us must join the crusade against criminals and the taking back of our communities from the gunmen. The private sector should consider supporting the Government on a massive emergency employment and job-training programme aimed at depressed communities throughout the country. Civil society should dedicate time and resources to go into these communities and support in various ways the positive endeavours of the communities' members.
Already, some companies and indivi-duals are contributing in positive ways along the lines proposed above. However, we need not just small steps, but a gigantic national movement of our people united in a massive crusade to save our country from the evil clutches of the criminals. Let us empower and liberate our citizens imprisoned in war-torn communities and watch Jamaica exquisitely blossom into a bright and bountiful land - the envy rather than the scorn of our detractors.
,i>Lambert Brown, is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union, and can be contacted at labpoyh@yahoo.com.
