Heather Robinson
ALL ADULTS who have responsible positions have to make some hard decisions at times.
As children, we were constantly told to be careful of the company we keep and reminded that if you lie with dogs you must catch fleas. The analogies with dogs -man's best friend - go further when as children we were told by our parents: 'Play with puppy, puppy lick you mouth'.
Now, with all of these teachings from our youth, one wonders how then could any rational thinking human being successfully try to argue and justify meeting with members of a gang.
The word 'gang' as used in today's Jamaica has nothing to do with dictionary definitions that speak to a 'number of workmen under a foreman, or of slaves or convicts' or 'a set of tools operating in concert', or does it?
JAMAICAN GANGS
Gangs in Jamaica are regarded as criminals "associated for a particular purpose", and that purpose relates to murder, extortion, rape, illegal firearms, ammunition and drugs.
Two gangs have continued to occupy centre stage in St. Catherine. The first - the 'Clans' - was formed by Donovan Bennett, a.k.a. 'Bulpie' in the second half of 1993.
The second gang - 'One Order' - is a younger gang compared to the 'Clans' and is connected to the JLP.
The leader is not wanted by the police, and has, therefore, been able to sit in 'peace meetings'.
The Sunday Observer of October 16 reported that the police "have confirmed that those in the talks were not wanted men".
The talks being referred to took place at the St. Catherine Parish Council's office between the Members of Parliament for Central and South Central St. Catherine and associates or members of the 'Clans' and 'One Order' gangs.
They were labelled as the most successful peace talks to have taken place.
As someone who has never participated in any such 'peace meetings', I have been wondering what exactly was discussed in this meeting or meetings of this sort.
Who chairs the meeting and what are the opening remarks of the chairman? Does it go something like this: "Let me welcome everyone here. And a special welcome to the leader of the 'One Order' gang who is not a wanted man. Representing the 'Clans' gang, we have 'Mr. D' who is not a wanted man and in contact with 'Bulpie'.
"Today, we are going to see how we can reduce the murder rate in St. Catherine, if you can all decide to stop killing each other and innocent people.
" 'Mr. D', can you please call 'Bulpie' and find out if he is in agreement with this agenda?" (sic).
'NOT BEING INVOLVED'
Political representatives need to begin to understand that history will judge them very harshly for participating in meetings with members of gangs who are beneficiaries of extortion, murder and drug 'runnings'.
Anyone who can represent the 'Clans' at a peace meeting cannot be viewed as "not being involved in crime".
That person must of necessity have status in the gang and the expressed confidence of its leader 'Bulpie'.
Any member of the police force will admit to not knowing every Jamaican who has committed a criminal act, and, therefore, is in no position to determine that because the police blotters do not have you listed as being wanted, it means you are clean and upright.
'Citypuss', Joel Andem, 'Richie Poo', 'Tatas', 'Money Tree', 'Papa' and 'Danny' from the Renegade 'Clans' are all wanted men who have been arrested by the Special Anti-Crime Task Force.
It took excellent intelligence, long hours and no use of trigger fingers to capture all these men.
Similar efforts by the police in Tivoli Gardens two weeks ago failed to apprehend 'Nunu Puss' and others wanted for police murders.
Any type of protection of the 'rights' of wanted men only empowers them to do bigger and more offensive crimes.
I never gave birth to any 'don' and remain 'truly barren' in that regard. Perhaps now is the time for men and women to do DNA tests to determine paternity and maternity.
And if all this fails, let us go to the Registrar General's Department and look at the adoption records. Some dogs and some puppies have fleas.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
