Government must act now to address social deviance

Donald Rhodd guest columnist

I, like so many Jamaicans, have been significantly troubled by the increased levels of reports of rape and carnal abuse of our children and women. The natural human response is one of outrage and a desire for quick and effective justice.

My upbringing, training and life experiences have taught me, however, that we must be reflective and analytic as we search for solutions to this evil among us.

My first source of reflection in finding an answer was the Bible. Psalms 37:1-3 & 8 states:

"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong. For like the grass, they will soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath."

From these verses, we can see that evil is condemned, and doing good is encouraged.

No one is born evil or good. An individual becomes evil or good as a result of the impact of the institutions of socialisation in his/her life: the family, religion, school and the community.

If the scientists are right in respect of the above statement, collectively, we are all responsible for the products of socialisation because we are all part of the community.

We are oftentimes not part of the family, the Church or religious group, or school, which all impact the life of an individual. However, we cannot detach ourselves from the broader community which must administer law and order, as well as a system of justice - institutions which underpin and guide our daily lives.

children live what they learn

When children overhear adults disrespecting each other or witness physical abuse of one spouse by the other, after a while, that becomes acceptable behaviour. When, daily, children observe bus and taxi drivers breaking the law with impunity, these unlawful practices seem normal to them.

When our children listen to lewd music and watch programmes which are predominantly violent with explicit sexual activity, these soon become part of the 'a no nutten' syndrome.

In summary, a big part of what we are now experiencing is linked to a breakdown of morals, law and order.

Another factor which is impacting the behaviour of our young men and women has to do with their socialisation and the perpetuation of single-parent families, mainly led by mothers. This has been extensively studied by the late Professor Barry Chevannes. More than 15 years ago, I highlighted the importance of this study when I participated in the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate.

positive role models

Our boys need a positive male role model in their lives, particularly between the ages of 13 and 17. I propose that we establish urgently a national mentorship programme, in which the 'good men' in the numerous religious, professional and service organisations volunteer quality time as mentors to the tens of thousands of angry boys, some of whom have never known a father.

Approximately 15 years ago, while being chairman of the Human Resources and Social Development Committee of the House of Representatives, a study was done which revealed that one in five Jamaicans had a mental-health illness. The findings were never taken seriously because, as a nation, we were, and maybe continue to be, in denial about the depth and breadth of mental-health sickness in Jamaica.

It is past time that our Government and our nation wake up to the reality of the immensity of mental illness in Jamaica. We now need urgent affirmative action and policies which could facilitate the provision of the necessary resources, human and otherwise, to address this expanding problem.

Children in schools who display antisocial and deviant behaviour should be psychologically evaluated. All adolescents and children in places of safety should be treated in like manner.

All convicted rapists should be subject to psychiatric evaluation during their incarceration and should only be released after being given a clean bill of health by a psychiatrist.

It is also past time that the Government enact the necessary legislation and/or put in place the requisite regulations so that electronic monitoring could be used as one of our law-enforcement tools, particularly for rapists who are on a pre-release programme.

finding the answer

In our search for solutions to what has become a major national challenge, the rape and carnal abuse of our children and women, we must re-engage teaching the difference between evil and good. In this endeavour, I advocate that the moral compass and guide should be the Bible. It is instructive that the recent census revealed that the vast majority of Jamaicans embrace Christianity.

Second, we must address the weakness in our agents of socialisation: the family, the Church, the school, and the community. In this, all of us have a role to play.

Third, we must recognise the importance of how we socialise our boys separately and distinctly from our girls.

Fourth, we must begin to treat the high levels of mental health among our population.

Fifth, rapists should get life sentences and should only be released after medical, particularly psychiatric, evaluation affirms that they have been rehabilitated. They should then be electronically monitored for a reasonable period.

I appeal to National Security Minister Peter Bunting and Justice Minister Golding to act speedily in doing what is necessary to enable our law and order and justice systems to acquire the necessary tools and framework for electronic monitoring.

Electronic monitoring is used successfully in several jurisdictions worldwide to reduce the incidence of repeat offences, as well as in several other areas.

The high levels of rape and carnal abuse being reported demand that we put new and effective measures in place to respond, in the short term, to a horrific crime which has reached alarming proportions among our children. Future generations will condemn us if we fail to act now, and act decisively!

Dr Donald Rhodd is an ophthalmologist and former member of parliament for Portland Eastern. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and donrhodd@gmail.com.