Turning a blind eye to reality

Dawn Ritch, Contributor

PEOPLE often ask me if I don't fear for my life. And the truth is I sometimes do. Just to recall one occasion makes my hand shake. I wrote a column published on March 6, 1994 in which I composed aliases which were not scrupulously held to by this newspaper. As a consequence William Moore otherwise called "Haggart" now deceased, found his gun-running and drug-smuggling ways fully exposed.

It also left me exposed, because "Rat" at least was dead but that left "Rodigan" and "Jawbone" very much alive. Unmercifully cruel, "Jawbone" or "Haggart" has since died recently and services were held for him in the National Arena. "Rodigan" was supposed to have fled abroad, and may or may not be in a United States jail.

The column concerned the Colombian cocaine connection, and its determination to gain political power in Jamaica. Later in 1994 I published an analysis of the police list of criminal gangs by political constituency. Dr. Omar Davies's constituency of course, featured prominently. Published elsewhere in this newspaper at the time was a report about gang activity in general by the then Police Commissioner Colonel Trevor MacMillan which noted: "Intelligence gathered was that this gang (in east Kingston) is a very sophisticated group seemingly with political connections. Its aim is to acquire most if not all the business community of Eastern Kingston".

This police status report went on to state: "It is the only group that betrays any indication of an interest in political office. At the time of information gathering, their threat level bordered on national security concern".

That was all a matter of public record in 1994. Seven years later, now in 2001, the funeral is held of one of these dons, attended not only by the PNP Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies, but two other PNP MPs and Cabinet Ministers, as well as Paul Burke, the powerful chairman of PNP Region Three, which includes the east Kingston constituency. All this leads any reasonable person to regard these developments as confirmation of the accuracy of Col. MacMillan's assessment report of criminal gangs in 1994.

The reality is that the death of one of the gang members had the attendance of highly placed and powerful members of Government at what had the appearance of a state funeral.

Frightened

Perhaps this is why I'm so frightened again. These gangs are allowed to mushroom and grow more powerful. Indeed the police commissioner who exposed it all was shortly thereafter sacked. He is, however, completely vindicated by the recent funeral rites and is in danger of becoming a historical figure.

Today Jamaica still awaits the pleasure and consideration of the Director of Public Prosecutions into the matter of alleged tape-recordings of people in high places and involving persons such as the recently deceased "Haggart". Even the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) brought it out in a long press release dated March 10, 1994. But in those days nobody was listening to the JLP. Opposition Leader Mr. Edward Seaga gave up 13 names in his concern for the grave peril to national security that the JLP was then warning about. He was however, not only ignored, but ridiculed for reporting members of his constituency to the police.

It is clear that this Government can do nothing about it. It is too late for them. They have permitted a Government within a Government to develop among them. Look at "Haggart" the leader of "Black Roses Gang". All that has happened since his death is that the gang members gathered together and elected a new leader. The same would happen if the Prime Minister, the leader of Government, God forbid, were to die in office. The Members of Parliament would merely get together and elect a new leader/Prime Minister in accordance with the constitutional procedures.

If the public doesn't find this as frightening as I do, then the country has gone mad.

These things have been a long time with the DPP and he is awfully silent about an investigation being conducted by the very same police who, under Commissioner MacMillan, were very much aware of these gangs, their motives and their influences. Yet these gangs continue to flourish and threaten the very social fabric and government of the country.

I have tried to find out what strong actions Kent Pantry, the DPP, has ever taken in his life as a public officer, and can find none. He now has before him enough material as I understand it, to show what mettle he is made of. And how much the public is entitled to depend upon him.

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