ORVILLE W. TAYLORORVILLE W. TAYLOR
'ROOM FOR rent apply within. 'Forbsie' run out, Lucius run in!'
Such is a ring game we played as children but this is no child's play. Despite his surname, there were few doubting Thomases and the deputy commissioner has been passed the baton faster than a speeding bullet.
I really don't care if Forbes was fired, as 'big shots' are prone to be, or he willingly stepped down. What matters is that he is leaving 'di wuk' and handing it over to the next generation. Hold on! I forgot! Thomas is in fact one year older than Forbes. Why would a man, who has only five comfortable years left before retirement, want the most thankless job in Jamaica?
Forbes is on his way to CARICOM and some are applauding his departure. There is a view that he was ineffective in handling crime.
Unsurprisingly, the overly garrulous, embattled, 'sub judice' Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams commented on corruption in the force and remarked, that he failed to protect the Jamaican people.
This remark could become an unfortunate case of 'cock mouth killing cock' because, under Forbes' watch, there were many allegations of the police themselves, including Adams and company, abusing the public and committing unjustified homicide. So 'Supe' "you get another boo like at Sting."
CORRECTING PERCEPTIONS
While major crimes have declined in recent years, murders have 'shot' out of control, peaking at more than 1,400 last year. Some perceptions here need to be corrected.
The main cause of crime is not ineffective policing. There are myriad socio-economic factors, including parenting, schooling, and lack of opportunities, to name a few.
What policing does is to mop up the spill. In August, I gave my opinion regarding the causes of violent crimes so I will not reprise it here.
My simple point is that the replacement of one commissioner by the other will not by itself change the crime statistics.
The same police force and environment that produced Adams, Deputy Commissioner Clunie, and Forbes is the one which has groomed the incoming commissioner.
Still, we need to put our support behind him because 'gunshot no respect no one'.
Yet, there are some things that I want to know about the murder statistics.
Are they concentrated in particular areas? Do the victims fit a peculiar type? Have socio-psychological profiles been built up to examine the motivation of the murderers?
In another forum I would be happy to share with the commissioner some of the 'luscious' insights. By the way did you know that Jamaica has the lowest 'crime against tourists' rate in the region?
What sort of resources does the commissioner have at his disposal?
At present, the strength of the force, including green recruits, is less than 8,000 to police a population of 2.64 million compared with 40,000 for New York City with a population of eight million and 4,400 in Washington D.C., whose population stands at 560,000.
Our police/civilian ratio is 1:211 compared with for 1:127 for D.C. On top of this, their budgets, equipment and facilities are superior. While the relative size of the New York Police Department is comparable to the Jamaican force it must be noted that the 'vulnerable' inner-city type population is less than 10 per cent in New York while it is close to 40 per cent here.
For good measure, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has a budget of more than US$830 million and a force of 13,000 to police 3.8 million. While their murder rate was just over a third of ours they had 30,000 aggravated assaults and 16,500 robberies in 2003.
'Foreign' police stations are better constructed, sturdier and better equipped. Certainly, when some of the deportees arrive here they notice the difference.
Only last week, the Manchioneal station had to be abandoned. The building was so dilapidated that when someone suggested that there would likely be jail 'breaks' I had to ask, 'into how many pieces?'
Unfortunately, this station is not unusual. More money must be found to equip the police properly even if we have to shorten the offering for pastor.
As for Adams, he should remember that he himself is still in deep trouble and could be wearing a very small 'pickney shut'. If his case goes against him, he could be looking at things from the other side of the bars, and not the rum type. If I were in his shoes I would keep quiet 'til the case is over and not make us hear 'gun fire 'bout him'. (Don't take that literally).
Well, the man from Tivauli (as Adams call it) is getting a 'wuk up a UC'. I have no problem with him moving from one 'ghetto' to the 'intellectual' one, as his pool of knowledge is expected to be shared here.
It will be spring and the university will be 'greener.' My only misgiving would be if his hiring would have a negative impact on the available capital for my department or, of course, my own pocket.
FAREWELL HERMAN
On a more sombre note, the addition of Eddie, the sociologist is little consolation for the loss of a 'quiet giant.' Herman McKenzie, the 'father' of all major Jamaican (bred) sociologists and many others, died on Christmas Day while we frolicked.
He touched and enriched all of the prominent sociologists, Don Robotham, Barry Chevannes, Patricia Anderson, Clem Branche, and Ian Boxill to name a few. People like Phyllis Mitchell and Faith Innerarity also passed under his hand.
Of course, you know that he also is to be partially blamed for releasing a devil like me on you. Bye Herman, rest in peace. Walk good.
Dr. Orville Taylor is lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology
and Social Work at University of the West Indies, Mona.
