Dr. Wendel Abel, Contributor
Policemen remove a body from the back of car on Emmaville Avevue, off South Camp Road, Kingston, last week. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE COST of violence in terms of lives lost, injuries, health care cost, law enforcement, human pain and suffering is enormous. The majority of perpetrators are young males, many of whom are marginalised, disenfranchised and locked out of the opportunity structure of society.
Economic stagnation has resulted in deterioration in the physical and social fabric leading to burgeoning inner cities characterised by a criminal subculture, diminished family life and high unemployment levels.
The political system has generated a culture of polarisation and the establishment of garrisons. These garrisons are decaying at an alarming rate as the lethal cancer of violence spreads. The society has a normative value towards the use of aggression especially towards those who are different. Parenting styles are characterised by abuse of children. The popular culture espouses violence. The social and economic inequality also factors in the high levels of criminal activity.
EASY ACCESS TO GUNS
Countries, such as Sweden and Japan, with strict gun controls have low murder rates. The grim reality is that access to guns in Jamaica is too easy.
The drug trade has resulted in a breakdown of social control, giving rise to criminal activity. Criminal activity results from competition between sellers, the protection of turf and the urge for money to buy drugs.
Gangs have been allowed to flourish in communities where social order has deteriorated and an acceptable value system is non- existent, at times aided by the political establishment. These gangs account for a considerable amount of reported crimes.
The media over glamorise violence. The vivid display of crime scenes in the media encourages persons to mimic what they see; behaviours that would have been considered despicable and invoke negative reactions no longer appear shocking. We are sensitised into the acceptance of the ghastly and horrible violence.
About 70 per cent of homicides committed in Jamaica are interpersonal resulting from poor conflict resolution skills associated with a dysfunctional manner of communication and the inability to appropriately identify, express and respond to emotions. We are habituated into throwing acid, stabbing, machete wounding and shooting to resolve interpersonal issues.
EPIDEMIC
This epidemic of violence that confronts Jamaica is preventable. There are numerous examples of success worldwide. It demands a concerted effort and a fierce determination, which we have begun to see, to address this deadly epidemic. The approach must be multidisciplinary targeting the fundamental attitudes, values and behaviours of our people and the wider social, economic, cultural and political factors. Guns, gangs and garrisons are a deadly combination. We must tackle them as a matter of urgent priority.
Dr. Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies.
