By Calvin Bowen, ContributorNOW THAT a month has passed since the latest declaration on war on crime in the society, it is instructive to take a look at the situation in order to assess what progress, if any has been made in the battle and what can be done to win the war.
Although no spectacular result has been achieved, indications are that a certain degree of success has attended this latest effort of the Government to bring crime under control. The figures show some reduction in criminal activity, although the murder rate remains alarmingly high. Violence appears to be endemic in the society, so that with the best will in the world it is difficult for the authorities to keep the lid on violent conduct. The high degree of domestic violence tells its own sordid story of mayhem and murder.
Criminal activity born of violence, is therefore, a major problem. The taking of life, by gun or knife, goes beyond the bounds of law-breaking and wrong-doing. The criminals who rob and rape are a violent breed who have no respect for life or property.
Thus, the security forces have to wage a relentless battle against an enemy at once ruthless and fearless. Success for the law enforcers is hard to come by, but they continue to carry out their hazardous duty, gaining such success as they can. Yet, even as they press on with the battle, they have to be aware of the danger of losing the war. It is necessary to fight fire with fire in order to flush out the criminals and wipe out the vipers' nests. But unless the root-cause of crime is tackled the war may never be won.
Unemployment
A recognised source of criminal activity is unemployment. Many of those who live without hope and see no future of a better social and economic life, turn to crime as a means of survival and sustenance. With no jobs or any prospect of a better life, they become bitter and express their anger against the rest of society.
To solve the unemployment problem calls for a strong focus on improving the conditions in the inner-city. The provision of gainful employment and the removal of the sense of hopelessness among the less fortunate in the society can have a powerful effect on winning the war.
For this reason, it is a disappointment that the Rehabilitation Fund proposed by the Public Defender, Mr. Howard Hamilton, has met with such lukewarm response. The injection of financial support into the known source of criminal activity can go a long way in giving hope and a new sense of self-worth to inner-city dwellers.
One strategy that seems obvious is to start and establish small businesses, including factories, which will not only provide the idle hands with profitable work but will also go toward improving the social and economic conditions under which they live.
There exists a means of bringing about this desirable change. The Production Train which has achieved success in eastern Jamaica could play an important role in the development of productive enterprise in inner-city areas. What a change could be brought about by the creation of small business people grass-roots entrepreneurs engaged in economic activity!
Programmes like 'Lift Up Jamaica' can also help. Criminals are ghetto-dwellers, but not all ghetto-dwellers are criminals. Many of those who live in the poor social and economic conditions of the inner city do so because they can do no better. Also, they are held to ransom, in many cases, by the wrongdoers in their midst. So, they need outside help to rescue them and to uplift their communities.
Fighting fire with fire is the function of the security forces. Theirs is the task to restore safety and stability in the society and to bring criminal activity under control. But this is not the only aspect of the battle. The prime object of the campaign to win the war is to pay more attention to the elimination of unemployment, the hydra-headed monster that is the chief incubator of crime.
So while we wage the battle and do so with every resolve we have to bear in mind that there may be the danger of losing the war by overlooking the crucial aspect of improving the lot of the less fortunate in the society. The challenge now is for the authorities to give serious attention to this aspect of the campaign, if the war is to be won.
Calvin Bowen is a retired Assistant Editor of the Gleaner.
