THE CAPITAL of St. Catherine, Spanish Town, and its environs, continue to bleed. The people of the Old Capital are under siege from the guns of the criminals of the One Order and Clansman gangs said to be supporters of the governing People's National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The flare-up of criminal activity by these two gangs, controlled by so-called political dons, is only the latest manifestation of the cancer that has been corroding Jamaican politics for decades.
That political cancer the deadly and nasty link between some politicians and gunmen must be confronted head-on. It has taken too many Jamaican lives and destroyed hundreds of families. It has divided several communities. It has undermined social order. That political cancer being facilitated by some politicians and nurtured by strong-armed men who are prepared to kill is a clear and present danger to every Jamaican and the place we call home.
And when we factor in the rise of the illegal drugs trade and the ill-gotten gains it generates to the merchants of death the danger becomes infinitely worse. The massive amount of money garnered by the underworld criminal enterprises of Downtown Kingston, Spanish Town, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, to name just a few, has infected our politics. A former Minister of National Security reminded us a couple of years ago that some of those backed by drug money were on the verge of being elected to the Parliament.
As a state, Jamaica is at risk. We cannot accept from our political leaders any more mealy-mouthed words that hypocritically feign no associations and links with the likes of One Order and Clansman. These are the same men who provide certain security services in electoral campaigns, attend certain political gatherings, grease certain palms to ensure that the organisation clicks during elections. Many are in the shadows but some are now openly organisers and increasingly, respected contributors.
It's time to cut the links publicly. It's time to dump those who continue to maintain the associations and the links. It's time to step up the intelligence of the security forces to track, harness the information and expose those who are involved in the criminal enterprises running extortion rings in several parts of the country.
Will Jamaicans of goodwill make a stand before it's too late? We think they will with enlightened and courageous leadership from every strata of society.
Jamaica as a viable state is in grave danger. We dare not cower in the face of the criminals!
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
