Dennie Quill, Contributor
THE ORCHESTRATED assault on policemen, security guards and a police station between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning could have catastrophic implications for law and order.
This unprecedented level of audacity may signal part of a wider, sinister plan to weaken the security forces.
I have heard many emotional responses to these attacks from persons calling for immediate beheading of the perpetrators to others who are getting ready to flee the country.
The sentiments of many Jamaicans were conveyed by a weeping man who called one of our radio stations on Wednesday morning. Enough is enough, he said.
POINT OF HOPELESSNESS
I have warned repeatedly of the anarchy which will likely descend on our country if the entire Government does not focus its energy on the solutions to this scourge of crime. And now it seems we are at a point of hopelessness.
What has been done to prevent the next attack? Police stations are so insecure and decrepit that it does not take much for another wanton assault to take place.
And after the victims have been buried, we will soon forget that the guns and artillery remain in the hands of the well-organised criminal element. So what is to stop the next assault?
When these dastardly acts take place we tend to try and pin the blame on someone or something poverty, police brutality, child abuse, political tribalism etc.
To my way of thinking, blame can be apportioned to many of us in society for the whirlwind which we are now reaping. It evolves from the criminal conspiracy to which I have referred in a previous column.
They include the politicians who effectively ratify the criminal behaviour of members of their constituency by euphemistically calling them 'area leaders' and helping these thugs gain prominence in the eyes of their communities.
NURTURING BACKFIRED
This nurturing of thugs has backfired spectacularly because now the 'area leaders' are acting independently of the politicians for I do not believe any politician would endorse the slaying of policemen.
According to one report that I have heard, some of these criminal gangs are better equipped than the police with high-tech weaponry and computerised outfits.
Then there are the citizens who, instead of showing outrage at the savagery of these criminals, openly embrace them, sometimes going so far as to obstruct the police in their bid to apprehend them.
It is the 'lickey-lickey' mentality that creates a loyalty to the person who hands out the largesse.
It does not matter the source of the money. Dirty money can be sanitised and find its way into political campaigns, churches, schools and communities.
SOME BLAME TO POLICE
But the police must also share some of the blame for this wave of criminality. One hears unconfirmed reports that there are police officers who have aided and abetted the importation and distribution of arms and ammunition.
For a long time, the issuing of firearm licences has been an area of concern and the smell of corruption has been extremely high.
We have heard allegations and talks about audits, but I cannot recall any public statement about the punishment meted out to policemen for their part in the issuing of such licences to persons of questionable character.
Policemen who are involved in this activity must examine themselves to determine whether they could have contributed to the slaughter of their own and whether the same guns may be trained on them in the future.
DENOUNCE CRIMINALS
Many of us, who are aware of criminal activities, turn a blind eye, when we have it in our grasp to report the matter and get action. So how can we express surprise when we see the criminals getting bolder and bolder?
There are some politicians who are famous for beating their chests and saying they are not associated with criminals, but watch the procession at the next party conference and see who is escorting the leaders to the platform.
Thugs. They are the ones hanging around the stage and manning the gates. My father would often repeat the phrase 'If you lie with dogs, you will catch fleas' and how these words ring true in the present situation.
We cannot take back Jamaica from the criminals unless all of us politician, civil society, police, the church etc. are willing to play our part to denounce criminals and demonstrate to them that there is no safe haven.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached
at denniequill@hotmail.com
