Orville Taylor, Guest Columnist
OKAY, SO here we go again. "Babsy Linked to a 'Don'." Pardon me, but what is the news? I suppose that it is unusual for politicians to have tangible links to persons with suspicious profiles in this country or anywhere. Right? Hmmmm.
So what are the facts? A reputed don was murdered and the car he was travelling in found to be co-registered in the name of Ms. Grange. Doubtless, there is a connection unless she wants to suggest that the papers for the car were kept in the same place with her campaign posters and the ink off the latter was offset unto the documents. While there may not be any evidence of criminal intent or wrongdoing on her part, she will have a hard time showing that she did not know 'Bubba'. Come on Babsy.
Put it this way, if you are an MP or caretaker or the political leader for a constituency you must know the "top man dem". This is even more so for garrison areas. If you don't acquaint yourself with the top shottas they will make themselves known to you. A di running dat. So, given the widespread incredulity that exists regarding her professed detachment I can hear the sounds of "Twep, twep".
However, before we try to form the lynch mob or throw the first stone let us be rational and fair, and make sure that the stone is held tightly or it might slip from our grasp and fall on unintended targets.
INNER-CITY COMMUNITIES
There is no need to be disingenuous. Inner-city communities did not create themselves. As I have been saying for the past 20 years, they are disarticulated societies in their own right, which have by and large been left to their own devices until it was discovered that there was political gold to be mined there. From the late 1960s to the late 1980s they were politicised and directed by some patron saint of a politician. The unfortunate consequence of this relationship is that with a few exceptions the relationship has been mostly one-sided with the voters getting little in the direction of economic development.
Don't jump at me! This is the case for almost all political garrisons. Take a look at Rema, Jungle, Denham Town, Greenwich Town, Canterbury, Flankers, and my own Brooke Valley and Sherlock to name a few. What is critical in these communities is that it is virtually impossible to function effectively without these liaisons. In the 1970s and early 1980s there were numerous accounts of the sometimes uncomfortable and embarrassing relationships between the designated politician and the 'grass roots' supporter. So let us be honest.
Now, there is a difference between consorting with criminals and actually participating in illegal activities. A politician has to understand that there are limits to his/her behaviour because unlike the activist/thugs who support him/her, s/he is accountable to the public even as an opposition member. One cannot simply say "I must follow them because I am their leader."
Babsy's crisis comes at a bad time for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). They have just buried their most credible patriarch. Some infighting occurred regarding the alleged purchasing of votes. Then there is the leadership race. On top of that there is Benny White who seems to have pulled off a 'coup' and has pocketed the Mayorship of Port Antonio against the wishes of his party.
With all of these blows to the party only the Bangladesh cricket team and an unwanted stepchild have been beaten more. Nonetheless, I would not suggest that political opponents endeavour to make political mileage from the adversities of the JLP because "same knife stick sheep stick goat".
Babsy may well have a skeleton in her closet. However, some of her colleagues and adversaries may very well have entire cemeteries in theirs (no, this is not an anti-abortion cry). If the truth be told it is very hard for any politician who has garrison-type communities in his/her constituency to survive without these affiliations. The real problem arises when the tail wags the dog and the lines of lawfulness, public safety and security and governance are crossed.
So here we are on a cusp of perhaps a new security regimen. The Prime Minister and Minister of National Security have declared that there will be a crackdown on illegal activities and there are 10 pieces of legislation being proposed. It is recognised that crime has no colour or political affiliation. Whether the offending fruits are green or ripe oranges, lawfulness is expected to prevail. Green dog and orange puss must have the same luck. We know that the police is equipped (and empowered I hope) to cat the bell. Will they also be able to bell the cat?
Dr. Orville Taylor is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, at the UWI, Mona campus.
