Garth Rattray

It's not that our leaders, politicians and Government officials are doing nothing to stem the tide of crime and murders that have drenched our island in blood for far too many years; it's just that crime and murders have continued unabated. I'm not saying that they are twiddling their thumbs while we live in fear and watch our friends and fellow Jamaicans shot up and cut down; it's just that the murderous criminals continue to kill whom they want, when they want. Even when they cool it while the security forces carry out operations in their communities, or when they make so-called peace treaties and cease-fire promises, they retain their weapons and, sooner or later, the bloody rampage starts all over again.

Sheer impotence

Politicians continue to publicly express how outraged, horrified, shocked, dis-mayed and appalled they are so often and to such a degree that it's beginning to come across as bland and perfunctory statements designed to appease the indignant and calm the frightened masses. Their verbiage, lamentations and condem-nations vary according to the social status of the victim and the depravity of the crime. But, by and large, people are viewing their pallid protestations amid the grizzly murders that swirl around us daily as evidence of sheer impotence. Consequently, we read, 'Murder numbers terrify judge', 'Murder rate has increased!', 'Eight murders in 24 hours!'

So, while we hear all this talk, talk, talk, the headlines scream 'Wave of child murders sweeping Jamaica', 'Fifteen children slain in May!', 'More murders across Jamaica!' As the bureaucrats natter, natter, natter, the newspapers blare 'Three double murders within nine hours!', 'Runaway murder toll!', 'Murder mania!' Amid all the jabber, jabber, jabber, the national publications explode with 'No ease in murders!', 'More brazen murders!', 'Spate of murders rocks island!'

Special task forces and squads

We've experienced over 30 years of escalating levels of crime and murders in Jamaica, yet our most noticeable response to this 'disease' has been mostly talk. In spite of all the highfalutin rhetoric, campaign promises, anti-crime proposals, probes and committees that have been launched, joint select committees, sub-committees, special task forces and squads that have been formed - have you seen any difference? Do you feel any safer? Crime continues to spread like a virulent cancer, invading all our lives, killing our women and children, terrorising everyone and choking our island to death.

Wrong place, wrong time

Criminal elements have lost all respect for personal freedom and life. Individuals and entire families are killed if they are targeted as victims, suspected informants, if drug or gun deals go bad, if they disrespect the 'wrong person', if they are even remotely associated with people who have been marked for death, if they are in the way of gangsters fighting for turf, or if they are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And now we hear plans for us to incarcerate suspects in already overcrowded, dark, dingy, filthy, vermin-infested 'facilities' without the possibility of bail for 60 days! Is this the best that we can come up with? How about some real action now? Continuously inundate our high-crime areas with security personnel; recruit more social workers and flood the inner cities with them; give tax incentives to and involve big business interests in social programmes aimed at transforming the lives of our dependent poor; get into the under-functioning schools and enact teacher and student exchange programmes with the more successful institutions; make corrupt and non-functioning Government officials (at every level) accountable.

We can and must snatch this country from the jaws of anarchy with less talk and more (sensible) action.

Dr.Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.