By Lloyd Williams , Senior Associate EditorWHEN DR. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, expressed concern in his sectoral debate presentation in the House of Representatives on May 19, 2004, that the drug money connection was corrupting some individuals in law enforcement and "within the political system", he must have been the first politician in Jamaica's history to link crime with politics.
Hitherto, all politicians PNP and JLP had for years denied any such linkage.
Indeed, although the connection over the years between some politicians and criminal elements (some very wealthy and even socially acceptable), was patent, to have suggested any such ties would have earned the wrath of politicians who would invariably retort: "Prove it now or shut up", as if it stands to reason that if you didn't have all the data then and there on audio- and videotape, your allegations must be unfounded.
CERTAIN DONS
Of course, the connection in recent years have become more obvious with certain dons who are known to traffick in drugs and engage in related serious crime, being seen as the benefactors and surrogates of some politicians.
Dr. Phillips was brutally frank. "And I must also talk about the link with politics, both at the level of MPs and other layers. And here, I wish to speak bluntly", he said.
"I have said before and I say again: as national political leaders and Members of this honourable House, we all have a duty to set the right example at all times. We need to demonstrate to our constituents that we do not need the support of so-called dons, involved in violence, drugs, or worse.
"We cannot send confusing or wrong signals to some of our constituents and the general public by having such relationships.
"From where I am privileged to serve, I know that we will have absolutely no chance of de-linking Jamaica from the international narcotics trade if we in Parliament lose the moral authority to act against corruption, wherever it is found, especially those who are falling prey to the lure of big drug money.
"Mr Speaker, we in the political system must resist the temptation of easy permissiveness, in the search for popularity.
"We are all at grave risk and we must understand that the society will collapse if we who know better inside and outside this House do not do better."
PROVISIONAL WARRANTS
What Dr. Phillips sent was as much a message to the dons as to his colleagues in the honourable House. You can no longer look to us, politicians, for any sort of protection. Provisional warrants of arrest are being served left, right and centre out there, and don't care how strong the ties, how much you have done for us in the past, our hands are tied we just cannot help you.
Of course some dons are going to react angrily, having been given assurance over the years, that some politicians were in their corner. But the ball game has change drastically. Despite the credit the Government is claiming for the round-up of alleged drug-crime suspects, the truth is that they are being picked up solely at the request of the Government of the United States of America, under an extradition treaty agreed by the two countries, and the Jamaican authorities do not have a single solitary charge against them.
MANY BODYGUARDS
And the truth is, there is hardly a don in Jamaica, no matter how rich and powerful and how many bodyguards he has police and civilian - who does not have unfinished business with some United states District Attorney in America or a special prosecutor in some other jurisdiction. In other words, most have a charge or investigations pending against them in the USA, the United Kingdom or Canada and dare not give their fingerprints to the U.S. Consulate here to apply for a visitor's visa, much more to go visit Uncle Sam, Canada or the UK where they may even have vast assets. And they live with the daily fear that the long arm of the extradition law may be reaching out to grab them any time soon. Some politicians might get as scared as the dons get angry, but then it certainly can't be easy to dismount from an enraged tiger that is being pursued relentlessly by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
