TODAY'S EXTRACT IS FROM THE EDITORIAL PUBLISHED A YEAR AGO ON OCTOBER 20, 2003.
MORE AND more reports are surfacing about attempts by a dominant criminal mind to consolidate disparate gangs into 'One Gang' a supra all-inclusive fraternity of thugs and gunmen with allegiance to a single leader and an ominous common purpose to control the criminal underground. The first inkling of this was in St. Catherine and we are now hearing about the same perilous development in St. James.
The indiscipline and aggressive individualism of Jamaicans have hitherto mitigated against the consolidation of gangs but the issue is now being tested, perhaps by a potential maximo leader who does not hesitate to murder the leaders of smaller gangs who refuse the invitation to merge. And just as businessmen in the private sector have found ways of channelling the undisciplined personality of Jamaicans into productive teams, so too some deportees, with an advanced 'degree' in crime earned in a foreign jail, may possess organisational skills beyond our imagination.
One such deportee is reported to be involved in the Canterbury battle and the police have declared a manhunt for him. We are concerned why deportees should be allowed such freedom to travel at will. Local police have complained that their hands are tied in relation to restriction orders recommended to be placed on a number of dangerous deportees. It appears that court approval is required on the basis of documentation detailing trial and evidence relating to each deportee. In short, legal red tape is stymieing effective surveillance of such deportees.
If such persons succeed in consolidating 'One Gang' rule the criminals would be well on their way to taking over the streets and imposing their will on the society...
