INDICATIONS ARE that today's planned shutdown of businesses in Jamaica to protest against rising crime will receive widespread support. This is good in so far as it demonstrates a determined resolve by the business sector to tackle the monster of crime.
While sceptics may question the usefulness of the protest and no one expects the criminals in our midst to be intimidated by today's events, we believe an important symbolic message is being sent that can galvanise the wider community into determined action.
So there has to be more to today's action than a gathering of people inside Emancipation Park to condemn crime, motorists driving with their headlights on and people wearing purple ribbons.
There must be concrete action to the stated support. There has to be more than a preaching to the converted or the sympathetic. Business people who are victims of extortion should be just as united in making known the hoodlums who are terrorising them week after week. To engage in collective silence is tantamount to sleeping with the enemy.
We also expect that the business leaders who will meet later this week with the political representatives, will have a specific agenda as to what they expect the Government to do. This should include putting in place the mechanisms to prosecute wrongdoers quickly. For ultimately, the security of the country is the responsibility of the state and there are specific responsibilities that reside in the hands of the Government exclusively.
This does not negate the need for team work. We have had
reasonably successful programmes of joint cooperation in the past. Crime Stop is an example of private businesses underwriting the cost of maintaining a telephone service allowing the public to call in information on crime without having to reveal their identity. Similar programmes of offering incentives for reluctant persons to go on the Witness Protection programme should be examined.
At the same time, we expect the business sector to articulate
clearly to the rest of the society how they can work together to address some of the social ills that foster crime or a dependency on a life of criminality.
The growth in the private security industry, the provision of
24-hour patrols in more affluent neighbours, and the erection of crude barriers in poorer neighbourhoods to prevent drive-by shootings are inadequate attempts at personal security. No one is immune from predatory attacks; no social strata exempt.
So as we attempt to fight back, let us be clear on what we are trying to achieve.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
