MAYOR DESMOND McKenzie's declaration of an offensive against rampant extortion in the downtown commercial area of the island's capital must have specific pillars of support, if it is to succeed where others have failed.
The targets of the extortionists must be prepared to supply relevant information to the security forces; there must be the full assurance that they will be protected from reprisal attacks and the police must be prepared to commit the needed human resources and patrols to assure both owners and customers that they can operate without having to look over their shoulders in fear.
If these elements are missing, then however courageous and well-intentioned the mayor is, his announced plans will merely be a lot of talk. The simple fact is, Mr. McKenzie does not have, at his disposal, any armed forces that he can send to protect business places. The mayor has also acknowledged the dilemma facing many business operators in the area: they are tired of being held to ransom but are afraid to state definitively that they are paying out money and to whom.
They want somebody anybody to do something, as long as it allows them sufficiently to stay in the shadows undetected. Self-preservation is a natural human reaction in the face of danger, but we suggest that the solution to this problem is the same as for Spanish Town which has suffered a similar social and criminal malady over the past few years. Those who are most affected must band together and attack the problem as a unit. As long as the criminals are able to pick off operators like sitting ducks, they all remain vulnerable. As we have said previously, extortion money has to be paid to somebody. Somebody has to collect it. Surely sting operations cannot be so difficult to organise.
The mayor's weekend statements seem also to be hinged on the realisation that the management of the municipality is made a little more challenging with the approach of the Christmas season amid demands by vendors to set up wares in areas not normally permitted. We do believe however that he and his team at the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation have shown that with a resolute determination, the city can be better managed to the benefit of all.
The same resoluteness is required in dealing with this extortion racket. It is not the mayor's, the KSAC's or the police's fight alone. It is for the businessmen and patrons to see that their individual and collective interests are at stake and act to protect them.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
