THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS shocked at first, then wept on the inside when I saw CVM's Prime Time News the Tuesday after Oliver "Bubba" Smith's death.
A resident commented "Him is innocent, nevva bus' a shot in him life; him help the community; send di children to school, nobody unda 18 cyah gamble. 'Bout him is most wanted, lie dem telling. Lie police ah tell pon him".
Another resident of the same area commented "we don dead," and how they had wanted to mourn for him but were upset how police had moved their roadblocks.
He continued that more was to come and how there would be another leader for them to "look up to".
"One Order rule the world," was the last statement he made that made it on air.
For years I have marvelled at the degree of support barbarians are given as so-called dons are able to dictate who lives and who dies based on whims. People who aim to be productive are forced to stay indoors, where they still are not necessarily safe, to avoid being causalities of wars in which they are not involved.
Yet these "community leaders/dons" who have criminal records at home and abroad, are called 'innocent' and are immortalised when they are gunned down. Personally, I find it hard not to despise the people who hail them.
Secondly, there are always runners-up to take gang leaders' places. It is sad when wanted men are backed by politicians and when politicians use these men to back themselves.
The vehicle Oliver 'Bubba' Smith was driving was linked to Central St. Catherine MP Olivia 'Babsy' Grange. She claims she didn't know Bubba but was helping out a 'constituency worker' whom she would "stand up for and help any time."
Who is this constituency worker? Andrew Hope, who is currently on bail for illegal possession of firearms and shooting with intent has been described by police as one of Smith's chief lieutenants.
It's 'Babsy' in the spotlight now but she is not the only one. How many people have been forced to change their political allegiance or be killed because of "constituency workers" and the politicians or political party to which they associate themselves with have not openly condemned their actions?
I am, etc.,
DALWA 17
auxbackup@yahoo.com
Ensom City, Spanish Town
