GORDON 'BUTCH' STEWART'S tirade targeting the levels of crime in the country and the Government's seeming inability to deal with 'the disaster' should not be taken lightly.
Mr. Stewart is, after all, a major player in the hotel industry, the chairman and a large shareholder in Air Jamaica, heads a business empire, and is well known for his patriotic stance.
When, therefore, he says that it was time for Jamaicans to tell the Government "we are going to take action to force you to do it (control crime) or force you to leave office", the administration should sit up and take notice. His comments about the new wave of migration and his assertion that he himself was considering that option, may well be a reflection of what a number of persons are now saying, although not publicly.
As we have commented editorially on several occasions something has to be done quickly to stem the new wave of criminality that is overtaking the country. We have advocated and therefore support the position taken by the Council of Presidents of the Private Sector and reiterated by Mr. Stewart that there is an urgent need for the Government to seek outside assistance and expertise to deal with crime. That help should include stemming the inflow of guns.
Locally there has to be closer monitoring of deportees who in many instances may opt to pursue criminal activity in order to survive.
Any country that is not at war, that has no declared terrorist organisation, that has no insurrectionist movement, but has more than 570 of its citizens murdered in eight months has a major problem.
We agree with Mr. Stewart that crime and the crippling fear that it generates are the greatest disincentives to business and prosperity in Jamaica. The dilemma that we face is that as people close their businesses and migrate throwing more people out of work, crime will escalate which will in turn cause more people to migrate and more businesses to close; hence the need for urgent corrective action.
We commend Mr. Stewart for speaking out and we urge other leaders from the private sector, the professions and the Church to add their voices so as to goad the government to take action to correct a situation that is deteriorating daily.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
