Garth A. RattrayI ONLY saw area Dons as dark and dangerous underworld figures but began scrutinising them anew when downtown Kingston erupted in violence because Donald 'Zekes' Phipps had been temporarily incarcerated.
History was made when he was led out unto a verandah of the Central Police Station to speak to his admiring public. With only a few reticently spoken words he restored the peace and calm that eluded our security forces in spite of their best efforts.
Unabashed demonstrators praised his magnanimity. They openly related how he fed, sheltered and protected them. They said that he schooled their children and did for them what the security forces and the politicians were either unable or unwilling to do. However nobody broached the taboo topic of the source of the great wealth needed to feed, clothe, school and protect most of the downtown community.
I was surprised when several very high-ranking MP's attended the funeral of Don and leader of the infamous Black Roses Crew, William 'Willie Haggart' Moore. They stoutly defended their actions and hailed him as a veritable community hero and an essential bridge between the people and the administration. His violent death precipitated reprisal killings and initiated factional fighting. Now, expecting almost anything, I was only curiously interested when I saw Mr. Delroy Chuck's mellifluous eulogy that was read at the funeral of area leader Andrew Stevens (Phang). Again, high praises were heaped upon this area Don and it once more appeared that he too was a selfless champion of the poor and community protector. All that was left was to have him canonised. I honestly began to wonder if all the negative images that I had of the Dons were only in my mind.
: Dons were once considered as hidden dragons with crouching tigers (henchmen) ever willing to do their nefarious deeds. Now they are often painted as lily-white bastions of the community and benefactors to all in their charge. The word 'Don' is of Spanish origin (1523). It is from the Latin 'dominus', which means master or lord. When prefixed to the Christian name, it becomes a title for a Spanish nobleman, gentleman, a person of consequence, or university professor. We however are more familiar with the term as it refers to an Italian Mafia boss, a respected, powerful leader in that (originally) Sicilian secret criminal society.
In the ninth century Arab forces occupied Sicily. The oppressed natives took shelter in the surrounding hills. They formed a secret society to unite themselves against the Arab invaders. This secret society was called the Mafia (from the Arabic word for refuge). The Mafia was created to engender a sense of family that was based on ancestry and Sicilian heritage. Despite its noble beginnings, the Mafia underwent several evolutionary changes and in time became separate bands of strong-arm enforcers hired by local landowners. The Mafia further evolved into a network of autonomous groups governing in rural areas. They ruled a peasantry that received ineffective government from a series of inefficient rulers.
In the 1700s, pictures of a black hand were issued to the wealthy. This was an unspoken 'request' for money in return for protection. If the money wasn't paid, the recipients could expect violence such as kidnappings, bombings, and even murder. Mafia oaths included a code of silence (the Omerta), total obedience to the boss, assistance to friends, reprisals and avoidance of the authorities. Sound familiar?
Here in Jamaica there was a lack of grass-roots leadership. Politically assigned area leaders once filled this need. Over the years the influence of the politician waned as the availability of necessary funds (for handouts) withered with the ever-contracting economy. Nature abhors a vacuum and so the needy and vulnerable 'masses' sought leadership and shelter where they could find it. The Dons came about because of a natural progression attendant upon society's failure to take care of our less fortunate. The resultant schism fractured our unity as a nation and sent the lower class tangentially careening into the alluring arms of alternative 'leaders' (the Dons).
The new area leader is a hybrid of politics and the underworld. He possesses the best traits of both progenitors. This product of hybrid vigour enjoys the freedom of generating funds by questionable means and of securing his territory by vicious deeds. The representatives who once surreptitiously embraced the hidden dragons (Dons) now openly praise and honour them. With this move they ingratiate themselves with the people of the community, votes are secured and a means of exerting some control (albeit by proxy) over the people is acquired.
Presumptive reasoning and anecdotal evidence leads us to believe that illegality forms the core of every Don's empire. The moralists would insist that we gather evidence and throw the book at them. However, it is quixotic to think that we can easily ablate or circumvent the Dons. They are the by-products of our country's socio-economic and bio-political transgressions. The Dons have flourished because the inner-city people have chosen to co-exist symbiotically with them as a means of survival. Dons ratify and sometimes control labour intensive contracts. Dons can tell felons to return stolen property, with apologies. They can start or stop tribal wars. No official authority figure can command such staunch obedience and unwavering co-operation. No police force can requisition such respect. In spite of their dark side, they can become useful instruments of peace.
No admonitions have been issued from either of the two major parties regarding actions and utterances of Members of Parliament who support area Dons. The MP's have been honest enough to declare their association with the Dons (come out of the closet). The ball is now in our court. We, as a people, need to do what's right for us and decide if we are going to Don or doff the Dons. We could:
(1) Leave things as they are with the sword of Damocles (In this case: criminality, tribal wars, reprisals and violence) hanging over our heads forever. Or
(2) Try to expunge 'Don-man-ship' and brace ourselves for prolonged, disruptive and violent demonstrations. Or
(3) Retain the Dons as resourceful community adjutants while we provide the social and economic assistance that they now supply in the expectation that, with time, morality, law, order and discipline will prevail.
The MPs have given us fair warning, how we respond will chart our social course for generations to come. "To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle." (Confucius).
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
