Hilary Robertson-Hickling, Contributor
ON THE DAY after we have surpassed last year's frightening number of murders, this country is in mourning. While one of Spanish Town's warlords will be put to rest, many will mourn both those that are genuine and those who have been forced against their will or else. But many others will mourn the loss of relatives and friends who have died in an undeclared war in this country. While we look at countries in the world where major conflict is taking place, there is no where the level of wanton destruction of human life as it is in Jamaica.
In a country where there is so much ambivalence about abortion, we seem fairly comfortable with murder, there is a growing industry of murder for sale, contract killings, domestic violence and gang-related violence. From babies on the breast, schoolchildren, men and women of all ages including senior citizens all are at risk of being killed. It is unfortunate that we have been so uncaring that we have placed less value on the lives of the poorer citizens in inner-city communities than their counterparts uptown. This helps to explain why the matter has been left unchecked for so long, that things have now clearly got out of hand. Priests, teachers, policemen and women, farmers, businessmen, gunmen, musicians, doctors have been killed.
This is a country that was born in violence and currently glorifies violence in the home, school and in the popular culture. To be a badman and probably soon a badwoman is becoming the greatest honour in this country where we have so many vulnerable young people. Their homes are falling apart, their communities are under siege and their country does not seem to have a plan to get out of this rut.
THERE IS HOPE
What keeps me hopeful is the fact that the adversities that most Jamaicans have suffered over many generations have not yet turned us into brutes. A brutal colonial experience has been followed by a brutal post-colonial experience, but most Jamaicans here and abroad have maintained their humanity.
A few weeks ago I read with interest about Mrs. Sheila Nicholson who has bridged many of the gaps in Jamaica to care for people in need. We also have to find ways of violence reduction and prevention through the creation of opportunities of all kinds; we also have to reform our political and economic systems beyond patronage and corruption.
The need for redemption is very evident as well as the creation of a new good mind, not the bad mind and grudgefulness that is so rampant in this country. There is a growing trend toward dependency and mendicancy among some of our people and this is a disturbing trend.
Our leaders are failing us because of the limited vision that they have: either they focus on winning the next election or making the next million. Our business and political leaders take a short-term view when a medium or long-term view is required.
UTILISE THE DEATH PENALTY
We have communities overseas which are affected by this growing level of violence and we have to work with the security forces, government and civil society to put the criminals away and rehabilitate them where possible. I now believe that we need to utilise the death penalty to remove those persons who believe that they can kill whomever they will.
Now is the time for the aspirants to political office from both political parties to get to work on helping to resolve the situation. A student from one of the volatile inner-city communities has started to worry already about the violence anticipated at the next election. We have to stop the flow of guns and take in the guns that are out there, otherwise Jamaica will destroy itself.
Hilary Robertson-Hicklling is a lecturer at the University of the West Indies
