Stephen Vasciannie
TWO FRIDAYS AGO, the University of the West Indies hosted a forum on 'Globalisation, Crime and Security' at Mona. The forum was organised in conjunction with the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of a series of presentations connected with the 'Jamaica Human Development Report 2005: Global Challenges, A World of Opportunities.' This was the first presentation in the series; the main offering was by Professor Anthony Harriot, who really needs no introduction.
In her welcoming remarks, the Principal at Mona, Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie, noted some of the main elements in the debate concerning crime and violence in Jamaican society, and encouraged the rather substantial gathering to participate in the discussion on the way out of what is probably Jamaica's most intractable problem today.
Mr. Juan Carlos Espinola, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Jamaica also emphasised the collaborative nature of the effort. Dr. Hughes, the Director General of the Planning Institute placed his thoughts on globalisation in historical context. Starting with reflections on the way capitalism had ultimately destroyed the underlying economic assumptions of feudalism, he urged us to bear in mind that capitalism has always been simultaneously destructive and creative.
But the core of the evening's activity was given over to Professor Harriott. His offering, which lasted for approximately an hour, was a tour d'horizon of the crime scene in Jamaica today.
Jamaica is bedevilled by violent crime, and the scene has become increasingly professionalised. It is estimated that Jamaica now controls six per cent of the international ganja trade, and eight per cent of the trade in cocaine. With this degree of market influence in the area of illicit drugs has come greater control of territory by drug dealers, greater specialisation, and increasing influence over community politics, and perhaps national politics. The persons involved in illegal trade in drugs, therefore, appear to have taken advantage of the increased linkages and technological advances that have come to be associated with modern conceptions of globalisation.
But why has Jamaica become this area of infamy? Why is the country a good site for drug trafficking activities? Harriott suggests a substantial list of interrelated explanations, ranging from the country's historical tradition as a ganja producer of note, its strategic geographical location between the top producers and the top consumers of cocaine, the country's unprotected coastline, its longstanding trading links with North America and Europe, our diasporic connections, free movement encouraged by globalisation, and the availability of opportunities for money laundering.
CULTURAL ACCOMMODATION
All of this is true, and in the question and answer session that followed the presentation, another significant factor was implied, namely, cultural accommodation of drug dealing. It was suggested that in various communities, drug dealers have support, because they pass on some benefits to people not directly involved themselves in trafficking. To this cultural accommodation may also be added, I believe, our collective failure to understand the magnitude and implications of the problem, Jamaica simply cannot afford to become a pariah state because of drug shipment and transshipment. Some representatives of the State seem to be recognising this; one hopes that the message will catch on more substantially.
THE WAY FORWARD
Harriott mentioned a number of possibilities for consideration, based largely on the idea that the State needs to tackle drug dealers at source - get at the money, and you weaken the trade, is a core prescription for Professor Harriott. Getting at the money implies, for instance, a scheme in which proceeds held by the convicted criminal may be made available to police informants or to particular communities. Getting at the money also implies freezing assets of the accused, and criminalising the holding of illegal assets by family members.
Other proposals on the way forward include: institutional-strengthening of the police force, dealing with the problem of garrison communities, direct action in certain communities ("pacifying the country"), paying greater attention to lifestyle questions, and advancing the idea of a "debt for security swap" with some countries.
The evening provided the opportunity for serious review of our crime and violence problem in the context of increasing globalisation. And The Gleaner will be pleased to know that the problem was not linked to slavery.
Stephen Vasciannie is a professor at the University
of the West Indies and a deputy solicitor general.
