A former colleague of mine, a staunch opponent of the Andrew Holness administration, unloaded on Holness recently on a social media thread.” I thought his tirade would have been more credible if, as a former police officer and Jamaican, he was more balanced and objective in his criticism of the Prime Minister and his administration on the issue of crime.
I am sure he will disagree with even this attempt to move him to the middle of rationality because of his somewhat jaundiced attachment to the People’s National Party.
Shout out to my ‘friend’ up there closer to the north pole.
Despite my friend’s lack of objectivity in acknowledging that both political parties are responsible for crime and violence, either by omission or commission, it does not mean he is wrong on the merits. His characterization of the Government’s response as corrupt and incompetent are spot on. His assertion that SOEs and ZOSOs are not credible crime-fighting strategies is correct.
That has been this writer’s position from day one. Why? Because we know the streets and what it takes to fix the problem. We also know that this is not a problem that will be fixed by either a former head of the JDF or some paper cops trained by the intellectual ghetto.
If only [my friend] would acknowledge that not only are the PNP more corrupt and incompetent, the party is more aligned to the criminal gangs and therefore incapable of helping to formulate a crime reduction policy to eradicate the violence in our country effectively.
The PNP has not only encouraged crime and violence in our country, but as a party, they have been active cheerleaders for the lawlessness within the dancehall culture and encouraged people to stand up to police who attempt to turn off loud music that disturbs the peace in communities.
Consequently, the PNP is ill-equipped and should not be allowed near power until the party goes through a complete metamorphosis.
That aside, there is no excuse for the Andrew Holness administration’s incomprehensible incompetence on crime. From the start of Holness’ tenure as Prime Minister, I sounded the alarm that, based on his utterances and understanding of what it takes to fix the crime problem in Jamaica, he would be a dismal failure.
Andrew Holness’ failure to seek counsel from people who know and his desire to accept the counsel of those who don’t have been significant drivers of crime.
For starters, how can the prime minister convince anyone that he is interested in stemming the bloodletting when his administration, whose responsibility it is for the safety of the people, has not passed the laws necessary to put criminals in jail and keep them there?
This question encapsulates the entire debate on crime and violence in Jamaica!
And so the Prime minister is back at it on Tuesday morning, talking about States of emergencies in Saint Catherine, Clarendon, parts of Kingston and Saint Andrew, as well as the parishes of St James, Westmoreland, and Hanover… Essentially rearranging the deckchairs on the sinking Titanic. Mister Prime minister, sorry for the language, but the fucking criminals are winning.
Whose idea was it that this guy was bright?
No reasonable person expected that people would be able to sleep with their windows or doors open in Jamaica as Holness promised. Not with poverty, greed, envy, and bad mind rampant in our country. But folks expected that Holness, who brags about being from a different generation, would be a little savvier.….… or should I say a little less dunce.
Look.….. I get it. The criminal cabal that is the PNP will not lift a finger to join the Government in writing and passing legislation into laws that will pull Jamaican back from the brink. The PNP is interested in burning the place down and presiding over the ashes for their selfish gains. We also know that a crime-ridden Jamaica is the dream of the comrades, their route back to power.
But where is the legislation from the Andrew Holness administration that would effectively put the PNP on record opposing crime-fighting measures?
Write the Laws and let them oppose them.
The JLP government cannot continue to do anything but resort to old failed measures. If the government cannot fix this, its most important obligation, then it’s time that the people reasonably look elsewhere for leadership.
In trying to justify his actions, Holness said, “The government, after careful consideration on the advice of the security chiefs, have decided to advise the Governor General that it was necessary and indeed appropriate to declare States of Public Emergency in these areas. We have seen an increase in criminal activity in these areas and, indeed, a threat to property and, in some instances, public disorder.
There was never any decrease in crime in any of these parishes, mister prime minister. As is the case in so many other places, what has happened are fluctuations in crime statistics based on several factors, none of which may be attributed to effective policing. Most laughable is the Prime Minister’s reference to the [quote] ‘security chiefs’; this is where I burst out laughing. Who exactly are these guys and gals“?
As of November 13th, a total of 1,360 Jamaicans were reported murdered, according to the police. A 6.8 percent increase over last year. Let us be clear-eyed about this figure; it only represents what the police know about, not the scores of people reported missing who have not been heard from or found.
It does not represent people shot, stabbed, chopped, and otherwise injured who will die but haven’t yet passed due to those injuries.
Mister prime minister, the criminals, are fucking winning!!!!
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Mike Beckles is a former Police Detective, businessman, freelance writer, black achiever honoree, and creator of the blog mikebeckles.com.