Heather Robinson, Contributor
A LOT HAS been said about the decent Jamaican. And even more about the decent, law-abiding Jamaican.
And, of course, the most spoken about Jamaican is the criminal Jamaican. These two groups of Jamaicans will come face to face with each other during the year 2005.
Within the group of decent and law-abiding Jamaicans, many believe that as long as they are not personal victims of crime, then there is no need to stand up and be counted as one more Jamaican who is willing to work with the new police commissioner Lucius Thomas, and the thousands of honest and competent police officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
PERSONAL LEVEL
Today, I want to provide some answers to the question: what is in this for me? There are many answers to the question of what is the motivation for not just only standing on the side of what is right but also becoming an active civilian crime fighter.
The first response is at the most basic and personal level. It is about me being able to do what I want to do, when and where. In other words, I should be able to go about my normal legitimate business without fear of being killed, shot or robbed.
It is about being able to transact business without being subject to any form of extortion. It is about being able to enjoy Jamaica in all its radiant beauty.
It is about my friends being able to enjoy Jamaica's nightlife, from playing a game of dominoes to having a drink at the bar of their choice. It is about creating a stable economic climate in which local and foreign investors can invest, creating wealth for themselves and jobs for Jamaicans.
What is in this for the tourist industry? It is about marketing Jamaica as the safest destination not just for tourists, but for Jamaican residents as well. And by far the most rewarding experience comes with experiencing the sheer pleasure of seeing the guilty paying for their crimes, and knowing that I played my part.
ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
Criminals do not expect to get resistance of a certain type when carrying out their criminal acts. Many survivors of violence will tell you that it was the element of surprise that saved them. So, too, as a nation we need to develop our own personal strategies that will take the criminals by surprise.
If more of us can demonstrate that we are on the side of what is right, decent, and in our children's best interest, then we will be able to surprise the criminal.
If we can let the criminal know that we will tell Commissioner Thomas what we know, then the scale will begin to tip on the side of right and decency. Few are the criminals who wilfully commit crimes in the presence of persons who they know will be willing to tell Commissioner Thomas what they saw. For those, we have to develop different strategies to bring them to justice.
There can be no doubt that the criminals know what is in this for them. They reap the rewards of their evil acts, and so, too, we now need to develop and maintain a similar passion about reaping our own personal benefits.
At the same time, we can no longer accept incompetence as a cover for corrupt behaviour, whether at the local hospital pharmacy, Port Bustamante, or within the Jamaica Constabulary Force. So during 2005 let us not tell the Circuit Court where you looked for witness of April 31. April in any year only has 30 days.
CRIME-FIGHTING VISION
I have a vision of Jamaica in 2005 that is totally into crime-fighting. It is a Jamaica where Jamaicans develop the reputation for a total and complete intolerance of any form of criminal behaviour.
This Jamaica is the place where we all become stakeholders in the fight against criminals and crime. This is the Jamaica where we as civilians become civilian crime fighters.
This is the Jamaica that is my country and no little 'dirty criminal bwoy' or no big kingfish will deprive me of the right to protect it for my five-year-old nephew. That is what is in this for me.
What is in it for you? Choose the right and winning side.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
