Dear Editor,
The sudden deaths of several police officers in recent months could be a signal that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are overworked and, perhaps, not getting enough opportunities to prioritise their health and well-being.
If poor health is indeed the cause for this sad reality in the JCF, it would not be surprising considering the high crime rate that the country has been witnessing over the years. Members of the security forces have complained, under the radar, about the long hours they work, the low wages they earn, and the increasing hostility they face from members of the public who show very little regard for law and order. Even without them saying it, the videos circulated on social media showing confrontations between lawmen and residents in some of Jamaica’s garrison communities are proof enough.
It is obvious that there needs to be others, besides members of the security forces, who can go into communities and hold peaceful dialogue with residents and mediate conflicts. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Security Minister Dr. Horace Change, and Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson have all pointed to the fact that most homicides in Jamaica are a result of domestic conflicts and gang violence. However, I see more of an infatuation with creating a police state through the implementation of curfews, States of Emergencies, and Zones of Special Operations. All of these have their place, but certainly, they cannot be the long-term strategies the leaders of our country have for solving crime.
One of the structures that have reaped success in the past was the establishment of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI). Despite the success of the programme in communities like August Town, Mountain View, Rockfort, Bhurger Gully, Nannyville, South Side, Telaviv, Whitfield Town, and Allman Town, among others, the programme was starved of funding by the present administration and members have essentially become inactive. Dr. Chang had said at the time that money could be spent on a better intervention programme. So far, all we have heard about are SOEs, ZOSOs, and curfews. They are clearly not working. So, how are they better?
The government has revved up its PR machine to convince Jamaicans that they are, but the lived reality is so much different. Everyone knows this, including the American and Canadian governments, who have both issued travel advisories warning their citizens about travelling to Jamaica because of the crime situation among other things.
I have always heard that if it is not broken, don’t fix it. Several prominent and credible sociologists and anthropologists have given glowing tributes about the PMI. People are dying daily, families are being ruined, and the police are overworked. It would make sense to have all hands on deck now to tame this crime monster.
I am,
Nicole Harris