Wendel Abel - I AM WHAT I THINK

The last two weeks were very disturbing for us in this country. We are experiencing a flare up in violence in several communities; two policemen, a soldier and several civilians were killed; the quiet rural township of Mount Carey was rocked by the killing of a Baptist minister.

To add fire to fury, during this period, many people in Kingston 6, an area with prime real estate, were sent into shock by a firework display at Hope Botanic Gardens; also, many people in that area had a wake-up call after an unusual drive-by shooting on Hope Boulevard. We are indeed consumed by violence. This country is in a state of civil disorder.

The psyche of our people

The psyche of the country is disturbed. As I walk about, I have been speaking to many people; many of them are in a state shock and despair. For the first time in many years, I am hearing a lot of people actually rethinking their options. For example, It has been a long time since I have heard so many people harbouring thoughts of leaving Jamaica. Yet, the reality is that many of these people really do love their country and do not want to leave.

As a country, we are in a state of panic. People are scared. We are a nation under siege and there is no safe haven. All around, people are searching for solutions.

The police

I sense the frustration of our security forces. I overheard a policeman remarking that Jamaica "must be the only country where men will turn high power weapons on the police". It must be disturbing for members of the security forces to see so many of their colleagues gunned down or injured with such regularity.

The society is calling on them to do more community policing, but it seems that whenever they do so, they are left vulnerable in some communities. If a policeman shoots a gunman, we cry police brutality and communities protest; if they fail to respond to a call, we cry neglect. It must be difficult to function as police personnel in this country.

I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty with which many police personnel leave their homes each day. The thought that they may not return home is a strong possibility. Our police force is hurting, they are overworked and under-resourced. Our police force is under siege. We need to give them much more support.

The media

Media have a responsibility to inform and educate but I think that prime-time news is too heavily laden with crime and just with bad and sad news. This is impacting negatively on the morale of our people. Many people, like myself, do not watch the local news; it is far too depressing and disturbing.

The news wears and tears us down mentally on a daily basis. The local media have a responsibility to balance the news perspective. They do not have to besiege us with the news of doom and gloom on a daily basis. Furthermore, research has shown that exposure to violence in the media does impact on violence generally.

Where are the solutions?

As the country cries out for solutions, I take this opportunity to highlight some areas for attention:

1.	We must accept that we are not living in ordinary times in Jamaica. We are under siege and this calls for extraordinary measures.
2.	Solving the crime problem in Jamaica will not take place overnight. The most effective strategies will be costly and long term.
3.	Take a second look at what has worked. We have many good models in Jamaica. The initiatives in Grants Pen and Stand Pipe which were funded by USAID and implemented by the Kingston Restoration Company were very effective. Most recently, the initiatives in Matthews Lane and Dunkirk have also proven to be successful. We need to replicate these interventions in other communities.
4.	We must focus on inner-city development. Our inner-city communities have been neglected for too long. They are in a state of social disorder and in many instances, they are controlled by criminals. The society has accepted this for too long. This country must embark on a massive inner-city regeneration.
5.	Deal with general law and order. Law and order have completely broken down in this society. Critical things that must be addressed include the easy access to guns and the normative use of alcohol and drugs, such as ganja (marijuana). We must take a zero-tolerance approach to restoring law and order in this society. One of the strategies used to contain violent crimes in Medellin, Colombia, was restricted access to alcohol and drugs.