THE EDITOR, Sir:THE CRIME problem has got everybody shaking in their boots. Of particular significance is the problem of extortion. It appears that there is a 'don' on every corner across the length and breadth of Jamaica. It is common knowledge that everyone who does any business in this country, no matter how small or big, has to pay extortion money or face death. This includes the higglers across the island, bus and taxi drivers, big corporations and anyone who falls anywhere in between. Their tactics are vicious and tenacious and could very well lead to death if one does not comply.
I have a colleague doing some work on Highway 2000 and he informs me that he must pay the 'don' on a weekly basis or he can't enter the site. He informs me as well, that the general contractor has to pay or no work gets done, as the 'don' and his henchmen will prevent all workers and truckers from entering the site.
As for the construction industry in general, as soon as a sheet of zinc is installed, a 'don' appears from nowhere to state that he 'controls' the area, and the amount of money he wants on a weekly basis. If this is not paid, no work is done, and the contractor or his supervisor faces possible death at any minute.
So what are we going to do? What is the Government going to do? People are afraid to go to the police because some say the police cannot be trusted.
From time to time, as motorists, we all infringe the law, and nine out of 10 times, the police solicit a bribe for not giving a ticket.
Recently I was stopped for a routine check and the police observed that I had a small crack on my windscreen for which he wanted to write a ticket.
He informed me of the cost for the offence ($7,500), and insisted on "Whey yuh a seh? the day hot, and mi thirsty". Since I had no intention whatsoever to offer, nor to comply with a request for a bribe from the police, I insisted that I did not have any money, and in any event, I was not aware that a small crack on the windscreen was an offence. He eventually let me off with a stern warning.
Are we therefore to reconcile ourselves to the fact that extortion is the order of the day, and we may as well pay up or hope to live? To me it is a bitter pill to swallow. Perhaps my only solution is for myself and my family to migrate and save our lives, dignity and pride in a foreign land.
I am, etc.,
AL RICHARDS
alfonz112@cwjamaica.com.
