THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHEN THE late E.P. cornered me with his knife, he showed his joy with the words, "Yu know how long mi a set up fi yu!" (Unfortunately for him, I had only six dollars on me!) The human desire to get something done and the good feeling when we achieve what we set out to do also applies to (the) crime.
There is rejoicing when the footballer scores a goal, when the batsman hits a six, when students pass their exams, when farmers' fields look good (and more when they reap a good crop) or when a detective solves a crime. And some murderer is happy to "mek a duppy." The farmer wants to do even better next time, the student wants to pass harder exams. And the criminal will attempt a bigger 'work'. The successful businessman will feel good when his story is printed in the newspaper or told on radio. And the criminal will rejoice (if he thinks he is safe) when his achievement is in the news.
Some youngster is inspired by the accomplishment of an athlete or singer. And some misguided youth would love to be like or 'badder dan' a much-talked-about or in-the-news gangster.
Because of the above, I am not surprised by 'copycat crimes' such as series of 'shot in the neck', throat slit' 'house burnt with elderly person'. Neither am I surprised by the police's idea that crime is influenced by the way in which crime statistics are reported (some sick minds will consider it an achievement to move the crime numbers up when the police are trying to bring them down).
All of us, especially parents, teachers and newspeople need to turn people's minds it so very carefully because if "the system" makes it difficult to succeed in doing good, to better kinds of achievement and suppress the wrong kinds. And we need to do then the human need for achievement will make some seek success in doing evil. Education system, Government bureaucracy, watch it!
I am, etc.,
CLEMENT CLEMENTSON
Harewood P.O.,
St. Catherine
