THE EDITOR, Sir:THE INITIATIVE by the PSOJ to take a stand against crime is commendable, not because I think it will meaningfully address the crime problem, but because it signals an end to the apathy that has held the middle and upper income sections of society for far too long. There is no need for new crime initiatives; we know who the major criminals are, where they are and what they do; all we need is to create the will to take the necessary action. Until the honest, law-abiding citizens of Jamaica are willing to take a stand, such that the political cost of not taking on the organised gangs in garrisons is greater than the political benefits that politicians receive in terms of secured votes, the problem will continue.
I urge the PSOJ to take one step further and to take a meaningful stand against extortion, to close down the downturn area for just one day and have a
public meeting where they
collectively state "we refuse to continue to pay the extortion money, that is ultimately used to buy the bullets that take the lives of our fellow citizens."
The current action of the PSOJ cannot be meaningful while some members of the private sector continue, albeit unwillingly, to fund the monsters that openly terrorise our country on a continuous basis. It is not difficult to deal with extortion, as people know who the perpetrators are; all it takes is for a collective stand to be taken and for us as a people to say 'no more'.
MEANINGFUL ACTION
I beseech the financiers of the political parties to demand, in no uncertain terms, that politicians take meaningful action against organised crime. Given the quantum of money allegedly paid for extortion, and the cost of crime to the economy, they must at least have the self-interest to realise that they would be significantly wealthier and safer, if the organised gangs in the garrisons are eliminated.
Until we as a people are willing to take to the streets in targeted and organised protests, the
politicians will still find it more beneficial to maintain their links with the dons in their garrison communities. I urge my fellow Jamaicans to channel the fear, the outrage and the hopelessness that they currently feel into a productive movement for change, instead of standing idly and
waiting for our apathy or the criminals to destroy our country.
I am etc.,
DAMION BROWN
brownamania@yahoo.com
Cherry Gardens
St. Andrew
Via Go-Jamaica
