Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
( left - right )LOPEZ and YOUNIS
SOME OF Jamaica's leading entrepreneurs have denounced extortion while conceding that some of their colleagues who pay thugs for protection have little choice but to do so.
Beverley Lopez, president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), said the practice should not be encouraged.
"We cannot encourage what is illegal and we do not encourage extortion, but we live in a real world and it happens," Mrs. Lopez told The Gleaner shortly after a meeting of private sector leaders at the PSOJ headquarters, recently.
Mrs. Lopez added that she had had no reports from PSOJ members that they are being harassed for money.
The matter of extortion in Jamaica has been a hot topic for law enforcement in recent years, with businesspersons in downtown Kingston's commercial district suffering the most at the hands of criminals. Police reports indicate that parts of Spanish Town, St. Catherine; May Pen, Clarendon and Montego Bay, St. James have been overrun by extortionists.
'SHAKEDOWN ARTISTES'
Sameer Younis, who has operated a fabrics store in downtown Kingston since the early 1950s, said he had never been approached by extortionists, but was aware of 'shakedown artists' doing thriving business in the area.
"There are some people who are afraid and fear for their life, so they add it (extortion money) to their overhead, so these guys (extortionists) look for the weakest link," said Mr. Younis. "I do a lot of work in the inner city and they know that, so they do not bother me."
Like Mr. Younis, Gassan Azan's family has been doing business in downtown Kingston and other parts of Jamaica for decades. On May 14, his relative, Maurice Azan, was murdered by gunmen at his businessplace in May Pen. Some believe his refusal to give in to extortionists is the motive behind the 70-year-old's death.
The elder Azan's stepson, Lloyd Phang, was also killed.
"Our family has been good corporate citizens in general throughout Jamaica, so it is a shock for us that one of our own would be treated that way," said Mr. Azan, who manages the Mega Mart and Bashco companies. "We have never really viewed that (extortion) as a problem in our business. So, for it to be happening to us now, is quite shocking to the family."
