Garth Rattray IT WAS only a matter of time before Negril fell prey to the criminal activity that plagues the rest of Jamaica. The last robbery four months ago was bad enough but robbing 15 tourists at the Tigress 2 Villas at Negril's West End is imbecilic. I saw the writing was on the wall in early December 2002 when my wife and I were in Negril because she was part of the medical team for the international Reggae Marathon. I only stayed over one night yet I saw and heard enough to realise that Negril was (and is) on the verge of a serious crime wave. The hotel at which we stayed abutted the beach. We went to dinner and sat beside beautiful plants fluttering in the gentle night breeze. There were several groups of overseas guests quietly and contentedly dining nearby.
But tranquillity turned to concern soon enough. I couldn't help but notice a shadowy figure skulking around the nearby bushes. With an expressionless facial appearance that betrayed his tenacity of purpose, he haltingly approached. It was obvious that he was up to no good. He circled and after apparently satisfying himself that it was safe he slithered past me and stooped beside a small group of tourists enjoying their meal and the night out by the beach. He proceeded to harass them to buy what appeared to be illicit drugs and they repeatedly told him no. Frustrated, he moved on to another group but was rebuffed once again. He finally left and wended his way on to the beach before silently disappearing into the darkness of the night. I was surprised to see him back at 'work' on the beach bright and early the next morning peddling his contraband. This time he was not alone. There were several other surly-looking unsavoury characters worming their way between the sunbathing tourists and openly trying to sell them drugs. They made no serious effort at pretence. They were fully dressed in regular dress shirts (tucked in), long pants, shoes and socks. These were no beach goers.
EMBARRASSMENT
Quite embarrassed for my country, concerned at this blatant attempt at selling drugs to tourists, and fully aware of the ramifications of such practices left unchecked, I complained to the sole security guard. He put up a rather brave front and loudly rebuked the 'druggist' that strayed once more on to the private hotel property. From their exchange it was obvious that the guard had most certainly encountered him on several occasions before. In spite of this, the 'druggist' repeatedly breached security by walking through the hotel grounds, within easy access to private rooms. I felt obligated to report the matter to the front desk clerk, who explained that what I witnessed was not uncommon because quite a few hotels find the security costs prohibitive and employ too few guards, sometimes only one, especially in the off-season.
During that morning alone I spoke with several people in the area and learned that some people in the transport business also moonlight as 'druggists' because they sell illegal drugs to their tourist passengers. These drugs, I was told, are not kept in their vehicles, they are stashed in nearby bushes and easily retrieved should a sale be made. This is how they avoid being 'caught with the goods'. Between the beachcombing pushers and those drivers who ply not only their routes but also their drugs, there is a thriving drug business going on in Negril.
So it should come as no surprise to see this essential earner of precious foreign exchange threatened by iniquity. Dr. Wykeham McNeill reportedly said, "The entire community is galvanised around this incident." But I submit that whenever an entire community ignores or condones illicit activity, like the ones that I (a perfect stranger) discovered in less than 24 hours, eventually, things are bound to escalate as they have. The fight against crime is an all-or-none full-time ongoing commitment. Hustlers of illegal drugs must never be tolerated; there are far better ways of making a living. Wherever there is an illegal drug trade, other more serious criminal activities are sure to follow.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
