THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS OUR nation continues to battle with the challenges of the high levels of violent crime, it seems it has become fashionable to point the finger and apportion blame. Very often, this blame is laid squarely at the feet of the Government, politicians, or at the 'broken' homes that supposedly give rise to the criminals. Surely, any objective analysis must help to point to possible causes of the problem but it is clear to most of us that the problem is multifaceted.
Any attempt therefore to assess our crime problem must resist the temptation to lay blame only at the Government or only at the police, politicians or poverty. Similarly, any strategy to reduce crime must also be multifaceted. What is required is a partnership between churches, other community-based organisations, police, Government, the private sector and community residents.
COLLABORATION
In the city of Boston, USA, this kind of collaboration has resulted in significant reduction in the levels of crime. At the centre of this collaboration is a church-based initiative known as the 10-point coalition. This involves an agreement among various churches to provide outreach programmes that interface with youth involved in criminal activity as well as those at risk at becoming drawn into crime. The churches seek to mentor, monitor and minister to these youths with a view to redirecting their lives away from a life of crime and towards personal development and gainful, honest employment. Equally important to the Boston success is the mutual respect and close working relationship that exist between the churches, police, government, the courts, funding agencies and community groups.
Only a collaborative approach can arrest this runaway train called crime. No single agency can do it. Even if we double the number of police, they, on their own, cannot get the job done. If we are to reduce crime in our nation, the police will need to work in a complementary way with other key stakeholders. Communities like Grants Pen in St Andrew and Flankers in Montego Bay are experimenting with this kind of partnership, but there is a lot more that needs to be done to sustain the successes gained so far.
COMMON RESOLVE
This kind of collaboration, if it is to work, requires a common resolve, among the partners to defeat this enemy called crime. Recent initiatives by the private sector as well as alliances that are developing among the churches to combat crime suggests that we are drawing closer to that common resolve. These and other partners need to start getting together in various communities to talk, plan and work together. What we need, right now, is a catalyst that will get the various key stakeholders talking. In most communities the churches could be that catalyst. This is so because they are still perceived as neutral parties and have the much-needed moral authority. Also, churches are found in almost every community and they have the organisational ability required.
On July 21 and 22, the Greater Grants Pen Ministers' Fraternal in collaboration with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), USAID and the Police Constabulary Force (JCF) will be inviting Rev. Eugene Rivers co-founder of the Boston 10-Point coalition to address pastors, church leaders and senior police personnel at a conference that will explore the potential for partnerships aimed at building better and safer communities. By initiating dialogue between the various stakeholders, churches could make a very meaningful contribution at a crucial time in our nation's history.
I am, etc.,
Dr. DAVE HAZLE (Rev.)
davehazle@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
Via Go-Jamaica
