Delroy ChuckTHE WORKING relationship between politicians and dons is not readily discerned, appreciated or endorsed. Perception becomes reality and propaganda passes for hard facts and divine truth. Decent, law-abiding folks deem it undesirable, inexcusable or even unthinkable that politicians should interact with persons perceived to be criminals, drug barons, gunmen, racketeers and wrongdoers of whatever kind. Yet, it is a relationship that exists and needs to be openly examined, discussed and debated.
Interestingly, many of my e-mail correspondents thought the working relationship existed only between the JLP MPs and area dons, as the PNP with their connections in the press, police and pulpits have effectively demonised Eddie Seaga and the JLP inner-city constituencies. The reality is that the PNP have more dons and a strong, even though secret, relationship with them. It is time the truth be known. We have heard from Dr. Omar Davies and would certainly like to hear from other MPs who have inner-city enclaves what is their working relationship with the dons - because it exists.
Just ask the police intelligence gathering machinery that identified over 400 gangs/dons some years ago and it will be easy to know in which constituencies the dons and gangs operate. These gangs have an enormous influence in their corners and simply cannot be ignored or sidelined. They could make living and community co-operation extremely difficult, nay impossible, if they are treated as enemies, outcasts and misfits. It is foolish to believe they can be wiped out or forced to accept whatever the society delivers. It is the social environment, I daresay, that created them. Like mosquitoes, unless we remove their breeding ground the gangs will form from the army of poor, unemployed, bitter and forgotten young people. They have nothing to lose, and the gangs and dons offer them status, respect and power.
Gangs, in fact, are normal phenomena of most big cities in which affluence and opulence intertwine with pockets of poverty. It is in these pockets of poverty that gangs emerge, thrive and survive. They are a menace and a threat to law and order in modern societies. As an MP, how have I fared? I willingly state my working relationship with the people of influence in the community whom I know.
When I entered politics in 1995, I knew nothing about Grants Pen and the people who control the area. I learnt fast and well. I found the young men gravitated towards four main persons who engaged in many intermittent conflicts, or gang warfare, and the area was a battle zone that could not be controlled by the security forces. I sought help from the few community organisations and the church pastors but it became quite clear that they did not have the knowledge, courage or skills to deal with the problem. I learnt soon that I had to deal directly with these people if we were to get a sustainable peace and a social environment in which people could live and work.
I got to know Colin 'Higher Monk' Hamilton, Andrew o/c 'Pang', Anthony 'Stradegy' Wellington and, to a lesser extent, the reputed don(s) from Morgan Lane. Morgan Lane is a PNP enclave that I visit regularly but have never had a good working relationship with the young men even though I get along well with the other residents. Pang and Stradegy were first cousins who were at war with one another until I brought them together in Father Richard Albert's Office and got them to start working, playing and living together. Stradegy, a PNP activist, was the don for the Easy Does Crew in Andrew's Pen Lane who was mysteriously killed last year. His funeral is the only reputed don's funeral I have ever attended and did so in the interest of maintaining the peace.
I knew Higher Monk for only a short period of time. Virtually all our meetings were in the company of the police or some civil leader. His working relationship with me was to supervise a block-making operation and other legitimate community activities, such as bushing and gully cleaning, for a period of about three months. That relationship ceased when he fired at a police party and went on the run for over a year until he was caught. He pleaded guilty to the charge and, surprisingly even to me, was fined instead of imprisoned. Within three weeks of his release, he too was mysteriously gunned down. I did not attend his funeral.
Pang is the only person of influence I know who moves about the area freely and unperturbed. I insisted that he make himself known to Supt. Rosalee McDonald-Barker and, subsequently, to Supts. Harry Daley and Kenneth Wade. Even though Senior Supt. Reneto Adams of the Crime Management Unit has said publicly that he is wanted that has been denied by the Constant Spring Police. His working relationship with me is simply to supervise some of the work in the Grants Pen Area and, occasionally, I assist him with drinks for his dances and stage shows. I dare anyone to show otherwise!
None of the dons, or any wrongdoer, have ever been a part of my political machinery and I owe no political obligation to them or anyone save and except the individual voters. The gangs and dons know they cannot depend on me for support or comfort in any illegal, illegitimate or violent activity. Maybe I am fortunate, as Grants Pen is a relatively small area and politically diverse. It has no area that can be deemed a garrison or politically homogenous. For the doubting 'Thomases', I am quite prepared to further defend, discuss and debate my working relationship with gangs and dons in my constituency.
I cannot speak for other MPs and for other constituencies, especially those with politically homogenous enclaves, but I certainly hope the debate on the alleged symbiotic relationship between the politicians and dons, crime and politics, drugs and guns, and any other relationship will continue and, eventually, resolve some of our misunderstanding and, perhaps, our social and political pains.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney at law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at Delchuck@Hotmail.Com
