Heather RobinsonTHE COMMISSIONER of Police, Francis Forbes, has been speaking recently in very clear language about the real and present danger of the illegal drugs trade to not just the Jamaican society, but also the probability of our political leadership being vulnerable as well. Mr. Forbes presented to Jamaica the possibility of some future Prime Minister or Minister of National Security being either highly influenced by or being a part of the illegal drugs trade.
NEW LEADERS
For sometime now it is being said that the drug don has replaced the politician in the community. This new leader controls persons with his own ill-gotten gains from narcotics trafficking, and not from the government contract that was given. The power of the drug don comes from his access to a limitless supply of dollars, and since it is illegal to import or export cocaine or ganja there has to be a massive protection programme involving guns, bullets and money.
There is hardly a Jamaican who cannot tell you about someone whom they either think or know is trafficking illegal drugs. At the same time there are some alleged law-abiding citizens, who have over time developed a somewhat 'romantic' relationship with such persons. They have fallen for the 'high' life, big house and fancy cars. This 'romance' has resulted in many of these illegal drug traffickers becoming socially acceptable and it is now only since the Jamaica Constabulary Force, with the help of overseas law enforcement agents, have stepped up their campaign against such persons that for the first in a very long time Jamaica has finally started to see the arrests of some of the so-called 'Mr Bigs'.
Many of these drug dons have diversified their investment portfolios and have acquired assets that bear no resemblance to cocaine or ganja. In putting together their new and diversified investments, they have all been aided by some "alleged law-abiding citizens", many with expensive MBAs and some working in financial institutions. All will tell you that they have no knowledge of the cocaine or ganja trade, and further the fresh smell of new $1,000 notes has nothing to do with the blue fabric softener.
DANGEROUS GROUND
The Commissioner of Police is succeeding in making Jamaica understand how dangerous this illegal trade is. In most towns in Jamaica now, the final outcome of the illegal drug trade is there for all to see with the drug addicts who walk aimlessly but with a purpose of getting their next fix. The number of lives that have been destroyed by cocaine and all its by-products is well known. But what is not so clear for all Jamaica to see is the families, especially children who have suffered and become unwilling victims of these killer drugs.
Those who have been given guns as part of the protection process in the illegal drug trade, utilise these guns for their own pleasure when a shipment is not being transported. And some of these young men have also become users, and with the gun in one hand and the illegal drugs in the other, they are extremely deadly beings.
The story is told of a young lady who was going about her business walking at her own pace in her community. Up drives a 'fancy car' and slows down beside her. The car stops. The passenger window is turned down. She looks inside the car. There is only a driver. There are no passengers. She takes a second look at the driver. He smiles and calls her by her name. They speak for about a minute and then he drives off. The young lady does not move. She is unable to walk. She has just been spoken to by one of Jamaica's MOST WANTED.
This young lady is symptomatic of a bad and terrible disease that has taken over Jamaica. She will only tell someone - and definitely not the police - that it was a 'fancy car'. And as to a licence number, how could anyone be so naive to think she would remember four numbers and two letters.
Criminals need to begin to understand and know that we will tell what we have seen and know. By supporting the Commissioner of Police and the police force, we really are only protecting ourselves and our country's future.
Heather Robinson is a Senior Life Underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
