THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM sick to my stomach with the complacent whining of my countrymen and the growth of "badmanism" that has been allowed and even condoned by the Government and the Opposition in the last few decades. Let us remember that the baddest of the bad is still nothing but an empowered little turd whose powerbase is the support of those who believe that he is actually of some benefit. This has happened because of abject failures of the church or religious systems and a corrupt police organisation that cannot even manage to police its own members.
Why are Jamaicans, the most respected (and even feared) islanders of all time worldwide, simply bending over and taking it without putting up a fight? The answer is because the foe is intangible, unrecognisable and inaccessible. But why have we voted back in a government whose ineffectual approach, ambivalence and possible support, have helped create a criminal society where these cowards and murderers are given larger-than-life and even hero status? The answer is because political condoning of the criminal has been a fact of life in both parties since Mike and Eddie gained prominence. I think of the Massops, Burry Boys, Horseheads, etc. of the past and their counterparts of today .
UNABATED CRIME SPREE
What is the answer to this current unabated crime spree? Who can institute said answer appears a mystery. It however is obvious and will be relatively easy for the committed. Mandatory prison terms ranging from 20 years to life and hard labour with public lashing for the possession of an illegal firearm and mandatory death sentence for the use of a firearm, in the execution of a robbery or murder will let these little cowards think twice about the use of lethal force in the commission of a crime. In other words, after a private-sector funded amnesty period of two weeks, during which everyone who turns in an illegal firearm will be paid $1000.00 per gun with no recriminations, anybody caught with an illegal firearm or munitions gets to spend 10 years at hard labour minimum.
SHY AWAY
Now who can institute
this .... Peter Phillips has consistently shied away from hard decisions, failed at or made no real attempt to punish criminals and seems to me somewhat ineffectual for a job that requires a real man. Omar Davies has yet to show that he has the backbone and stomach for what is required here. Carl Blythe ... smooth and slick along the lines of Percival Patterson and definitely not up to the job. Portia ... you cannot reasonably ask her to turn on the culture from which she rose, so without further
analysis, forget it!
LAST, BEST HOPE
Bruce Golding is the last, best hope and my personal choice for the job. He has shown himself to be unilaterally anti-crime, been targeted by the political elements in the police-military machine and still stands strong and large, despite the work of media that thrive on chaos and ambivalence. Reservations are, can he really walk the walk?
Jamaicans have to rise up and throw apathy out the door. Get rid of unresponsive leaders and speak out against these criminals. Stop glorifying them and report any incidence of crime and the perpetuators if you know them. Don't wait until you are the victim and then wonder why no one is helping you. Start with the coward in the mirror!
I am, etc.,
STEPHEN F. SMITH
puttus@walla.com
Black River
St. Elizabeth
