Heather Robinson
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 was for some Jamaicans a special day. It was special for my young friend from Hannah Town who told me there was an 'all-island curfew' and he could therefore not leave his community to visit Food for the Poor to get much needed assistance. It was special for the many unemployed who journeyed to New Kingston to hear how their lives would be made better. It was special for the families and friends of persons who heard the names of their murdered relatives read out. It was special for all Jamaicans who made their way to Emancipation Park, having ended work at 1.00 p.m. And for the majority of Jamaicans it was just one of those days when the office closed early.
Many persons have expressed opinions on the usefulness of Wednesday's activities organised by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). Some see it as a good first step, while others see it as surrendering to the small group of criminals who have managed quite successfully to hold us all hostages. Some see it as the PSOJ's response to murder of one of its own, and some see it as the dawn of a new day of the PSOJ working with the government in a meaningful way to develop a successful crime reduction plan.
During my 38 1/2 months of being a Member of Parliament, I experienced how painful it was to be constantly burying murder victims, all the result of one man's desire to be St. Catherine's 'number one don'. Some of the clearest recollections I have of being an MP relate to how I got the news of the murder, how the families tried to cope and, of course, the funeral. The murder of someone who is known or related to you is very painful. Is it possible that of the over 600 persons murdered so far this year, you did not know one of these victims. So should you be surprised when persons who have relatives and friends murdered react by organising a response such as Wednesday's?
Every Jamaican who has an interest in remaining a citizen of this country has a solution to our high murder rate. The majority of these solutions have nothing no do with the persons making the suggestions. The solutions are the responsibility of the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Security, the Government, the Commissioner of Police and the security forces.
If the activities on Wednesday will mark the beginning of a process of ownership, of accepting responsibility for the state that we are all in, then some progress would have been made. It it marks the beginning of all members of the private sector paying their income taxes, GCT, HEART, NHT, and NIS deductions then it would have been a successful activity. If it means that private sector companies are going to adopt a police station, then Wednesday was a great success.
If it means that the meeting with the PSOJ, the Government and the Opposition can bring about a meaningful reduction in crime, then Wednesday would not have been in vain. If Wednesday results in the end of one-upmanship talk between the PSOJ and the Government; between the Opposition and the Government and between PNP contenders for the presidency of the party, then the PSOJ can hug up the praise.
But the solutions to this scourge of crime in our country are not just the responsibility of the elected representatives and the PSOJ. How many persons who came out to show public support for law and order know something that they have not told the police? How many are willing to change their behaviour and put money allocated for the payment of extortion in a fund to improve the economic and educational opportunities of persons in inner-city communities?
WILLING HOSTS TO CRIMINALS
For too long Jamaicans have played willing hosts to criminals. Many have made pleas in the past for an end to the relationship between criminals and politicians who have played and continue to play the 'hug up' game. And yes, Dr. Blythe, your suggestion for a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives might have some merit, but you need first to attend a sitting of Parliament to get it placed on the Order Paper.
While some of us can breathe a sigh of relief and pray and hope that some real changes will finally take place in Jamaica, there are too many others who need to pray for absolution.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
