THE EDITOR, Sir:THE MONSTER called crime, as I see it, is growing out of proportion and one would think it is feeding on fertiliser. What can we do to stop this monster?
I think we need to shift focus a little, stop looking at the symptom and start looking at the cause and note I did say we because I think we all have a part to play.
What are some of the causes? Drugs, fight over territory, unemployment, and the lack of job opportunities. These are some of the main causes of crime. I think the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police know that these are some of the causes but I don't think they are doing enough.
The Minister of National Security formed a new squad named Operation Kingfish. Now, Kingfish is doing a good job in clamping down on the drug trade, finding ammunition etc. but Kingfish is not the panacea. So, while we applaud their effort, what about the fight over turf, unemployment and the lack of job
opportunities?
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Davies said recently that young men in his constituency are unemployable, irredeemable and uneducated. Whenever you find these three combinations, you will find crime. The big question is what are the solutions?
Let us start with the police. Our police need to win back the trust and confidence of the Jamaican people, and this can be done by better community policing. In order to get back Jamaica from the monster called crime, we will have to first take back our community.
It will never be easy to win back trust and confidence, but we need to start somewhere and the time is now. The new police commissioner has a colossal task, to rid the Police Force of the corrupt men and women.
I call on the government to give the security forces the requisite tools to fight crime. I also call upon the Minister of Finance to create job opportunities for the unemployed and the thousands of school leavers this year.
Jamaicans, let's join hands together as no one is safe. Let's take back our community from the monster.
I call on the Church to play its role. I call on the business sector and all civil Jamaicans. Let us help to minimise crime and maximise a better Jamaica.
I am, etc.,
ALFRED PANTON
Spanish Town
