Delroy ChuckTHERE IS an alarming state of panic overwhelming the society. Crime and the fear of crime have become the number one concern and the increasing levels of violence tend to fuel the fear in an already panic-stricken society. Increasingly, it appears that this dreaded monster of violence creeps closer home as friends and loved ones are slaughtered, held up, robbed, threatened and frightened. Everyone is now worried and deeply concerned about their safety and security, as crime seems out of control and the criminal elements undoubtedly have the upper hand.
What has caused this growing sense of insecurity is the ease and brazenness with which criminals hold up, kidnap, rob and kill their victims. Robbery has become an art, in which the criminal gang, a few men and women, simply walk into stores, pull their guns and take whatever cash and valuables are available. Extortion of business places, the illegally accepted practice in many inner city communities, has become a menace uptown and the inability of the security forces to contain this widespread cancer puts the businessman and his family at risk. Then, consider the invasion of people's privacy when their homes, cars and persons are violated; it is oftentimes not the loss of material things but the trauma and pain of feeling helpless, alone and psychologically, if not physically, wounded.
Our society cannot continue like this. People cannot continue to live in such great fear, like pent-up animals, feeling insecure and unsafe in their homes, going tentatively about their business in distress, looking ahead and behind their shoulders ominously, spending vast sums of money to secure and protect their homes, offices and persons and wondering if anyone close and dear will be the next victim.
In truth, the society has yet to come to terms with the escalating problem of crime and the general breakdown in the social order. It is still unclear to far too many that crime is merely a manifestation of social disorganisation and economic disintegration. Solving the problem of crime is far deeper and more complex than simply asking for the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police to go. The problem is one of poor governance and the total mismanagement of our country.
Naturally, when things go wrong, we seek scapegoats, answers and immediate solutions. Yet, solutions to crime and the growing sense of insecurity will not come through more laws, harsher measures and intensive police operations even though in the short term they may help. I rather doubt that merely changing the Minister and the Commissioner of Police will stem the tide of indiscipline, corruption and decay.
Let us not forget that we have had many well-intentioned Ministers and Commissioners over the past three or more decades, and crime has never been under control. As a society, we need to stop thinking that crime, delinquency and indiscipline are matters merely for the police and Minister of National Security, even though they are at the forefront of the fight, when the whole society has to play a part. Where, I believe, the present Minister and Commissioner have failed, is through their inability to inspire communities, and the nation, to give support, to come to the aid of the security forces and, most importantly, to assuage the passion of victims of injustice that the cry for justice, from whatever quarter, is being heard and dealt with. Actually, much more needs to be done if we are ever going to come to terms with the problem of crime.
Crime does not occur in a vacuum and cannot be solved by simply putting more resources to fight it. It is a social disease that emerges from the stress, frustration and disorder within the social, economic and political order. It needs good government, economic prosperity and the social outlets and entrepreneurial opportunities for people to satisfy their cravings and aspirations, ease the social tension and create an atmosphere of hope and belonging. People want to migrate and abandon this land, as there is no hope, no feeling of belonging and many doubt the government, or anyone, has any answer to the relentless drift towards chaos and anarchy.
Crime in fact is merely a measure of the total decay around and sends the powerful message that we are not on the right track, whatever the government may say or do. We are really reaping the whirlwind of poor economic policies, social neglect and the culture of political tribalism. In my early columns, I argued passionately that the government couldn't expect to avoid further aggravation of the crime problem when it turns a blind eye or fails to do enough to remedy electoral malpractices, indiscipline and corruption in government bureaucracy, and the recklessness and indiscipline in the economic management of the country.
From many angles, it can forcefully be argued that crime is substantially an economic problem and until we can get the economy right then the crime waves will remain. To be sure, most of the social problems manifesting themselves everywhere result from the failure of the government to put the economy first, while concentrating and believing that politics can solve everything when corrupt politics is oftentimes the genesis of the problem. Crime then becomes a political phenomenon, as it is the political practices that cause the economy to go awry and the further concentration on politics to remedy problems that aggravate the deteriorating social order.
Is it any wonder then that while there is a growing sense of insecurity, the government is concentrating on putting together programmes and policies to win the fourth term, and if and when it wins the fourth term, it will start thinking about winning the fifth term. Thus, government in Jamaica is not about serving the national interest, it is about winning and maintaining power, supporting and enhancing political tribalism, enslaving the poor and weak to become dependent while fostering a culture of paternalism and mendicancy.
Do we need to look any further for the causes to the escalating problem of crime and violence and the fear and insecurity that overwhelm the society? Until politics is practised in the national, and not the party's, interest, Jamaica has nowhere going, except to further chaos and anarchy.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at delchuck@hotmail.com.
