Heather RobinsonHAVE YOU ever wondered where this place that we call Jamaica is ? So many things have happened during the last week to make the mind wonder and ask the question: Where is this place?
Last weekend, I watched local television reports of what had transpired in east Kingston. Six persons had been murdered and the police were at one of the murder scenes collecting information and forensic evidence.
LOOKING LIKE A FOREIGN COUNTRY
Present with our members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields. For a few moments, I wanted to believe that this was another country and a different place.
Deputy Commissioner Shields was conspicuous in his presence, and looked like a member of a United Nations peacekeeping team in some part of our motherland Africa. In fact, if you had turned down the sound of your television, the scene resembled that of a major terrorist attack in some foreign country.
On Monday, I listened to Mr. Shields as he was interviewed by Dionne Jackson Miller on Radio Jamaica. He was very clear in his responses. He would not be arrogant to think that he can, by himself, reduce Jamaica's homicide rate, but rather was prepared to work with the JCF and the Jamaican people in a cooperative effort.
As I listened to him, I remembered being told many years ago, that 'gun is power, and power is recognition'. When we look at what some of these so-called turf wars are really about, one has to question the sanity of these serial murderers who murder just to demonstrate their power and be given the recognition that they relish.
Each time when I drive on the causeway, I am struck by the magnitude of the work that is being done there. At present, the land reclamation in the areas nearest to the bridge itself is about six to eight feet higher than the original causeway road. Layers and layers of marl, netting and piping have been used in this construction.
WILLING TO PURSUE CAUSE
I would not want to guess how much money has already been spent. And I also remember being told that Portmore has the highest number of university graduates per capita in the entire Jamaica.
Are these the persons who are willing to pursue their cause to the level of the Privy Council? Are these the people who would rather that those of us who do not live in Portmore pay for the new toll road that was designed principally to facilitate them?
Bruce Golding has had his desire to be a sitting Member of Parliament become more of a reality with the Prime Minister's announcement of the by-election date for Western Kingston.
IS THIS REPRESENTATION?
But sometimes when one listens to Mr. Golding, one has to wonder if he was not already the MP and the third leader of the Opposition Jamaica has had since the beginning of 2005. At one time, he is telling his supporters to prepare for an early general election while forgetting that that is the Prime Minister's prerogative and that this Prime Minister has said that he will not contest another election.
Is this really about representation? Did he have the same fervour and desire to see the people of St. Catherine South Central represented from June 1996 to December 1997? Is this only about sitting in the seat left of Derrick Smith in Parliament?
Jamaica is certainly an interesting place. My hope at this time is that with the leadership of Commissioner Lucius Thomas, the JCF, hand in hand with the citizens of Jamaica, will develop sufficient levels of mutual confidence and trust and we will begin to see the dawn of a new day in Jamaica.
This is a Jamaica where when 24 persons witness a murder, even one will have the courage and the confidence to tell the police what happened. If citizens believe that the best way to deal with criminals is to walk away, then pretty soon we will have more places for the criminals to hide.
The citizens of Portmore, who have no desire to be party to a long lawsuit all the way to the Privy Council, need to express their position publicly. And let us hope that when Mr. Golding speaks during the budget debate, we will be refreshed and not ask: is it this that we were waiting on?
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
