Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
DRUMMOND
LAST week a friend quoted to me a few words from the poem 'The Paradox of our Time', "...The paradox of our times in history is that we have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgment..." .
I couldn't agree more with these words. We have very 'qualified' persons who are in leadership positions but they don't seem to be making much sense in their fight against crime.
Last Wednesday, most businesses closed their doors to protest against the violence affecting the nation but was that enough? Some might say 'well at least that's a start'. I say it may be a cry too late. Do you think the closure affected the gunman? No, it affected you and me who had business to do. It did not hit the gunmen where it hurt.
1,500 MURDERS
At the end of 2004 the country tallied a record high of more than 1,500 murders. Did the Government and members of the security forces think it would decrease without them taking stringent steps to curb the indiscipline affecting the country? What did we do? We sat and watched!
How long did the security forces think it would take before they became the targets? My grandmother always told me 'do sup'm before sup'm do yu."
Don't get me wrong, I'm totally sympathetic to the families of the nine policemen who were slain in the last few weeks, but the security forces did not do enough to protect themselves and they are not doing enough to protect us.
I am of the view that some members of the security forces and some politicians know who are the major criminal elements in this country. And I am of the view that it is some of these police personnel who hang out on the street corners extorting money from law-abiding citizens in traffic offences when they should be patrolling troubled communities and protecting the citizens of this country.
They (security forces and Government) have 'petted' and 'powdered' the criminal elements over the years, and now these same criminals are out of their control.
TALKING, TALKING, TALKING
But we are all to be blamed for the state of the country. A state characterised by repeated reports of a corrupt Government and security forces, which seem to do much better at talking, talking and talking. Where committees and sub-committees are appointed to examine committees; and a state where some members of the private sector appear to be selfish and individualistic. Why haven't more of them collaborated with the police to trace those fuelling the 'extortion industry'? Is it that hard? If all business operators decided not to pay extortion money do you think they would kill them all?
Too many communities have been silent while their 'dons' thrive. And too many citizens just complain about the issues of crime and then go on their merry way.
Well, the mess has now hit the fan and no one is safe. Not the politicians, not the police, not you, not me. So what are we going to do?
