Whenever the issue of crime comes up in Jamaica there is the usual hand wringing by opposition politicians , special interest groups who have relevance because of the proliferation of crime, and ordinary well thinking people as well.
The default position of the opposition party traditionally is to oppose everything the government does regardless of merit.
The criminal rights groups have their own axes to grind so they militate against serious measures aimed at curbing crime.
Logically, if we were to ever eradicate crime and have a stable society how relevant would they be?
Another topic for another time…
Then there are the conscientious Jamaicans who wring their hands at the thought of doing the right thing. They tell themselves serious times call for serious measures so the status quo is not sustainable.
They argue we have to give up some of our rights in order to receive some semblance of security.
Not true !!!
Having the rights and dignity of the Jamaican people respected while eradicating crime is not a binary choice , we can ‚and must have both.
There is no mutual exclusivity on this issue.
Our security forces must be respectful of citizens when they do their job , but there must be an appropriate balance which gives the security forces the means to deal effectively with those who would abuse and assault them in the lawful execution of their duties.
Additionally, we can have respected outside independent investigations of security forces misconduct . That oversight however cannot be about the ego of any person.
It must be credible , non-adversarial oversight which understands the complexities and challenges of law enforcement in Jamaica.
Done right that oversight will be a terrific ally of both the public and the security forces as it gives comfort to both sides that it’s actions are fair , honest and it’s determinations one way or the other are just.
On that basis the INDECOM Act must be repealed or revisited at a bare minimum, and the head of that Agency must be replaced as apart of any serious plan aimed at eradicating the scourge of crime from our country.
NEW POWERS
The Holness Administration has tabled new legislation , the Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act which the Administration argues will do much to reduce crime.
The Bill is still being looked at by a joint select committee of Parliament made up of Delroy Chuck (Justice Minister ) Robert Montague (National Security Minister ), Minister of State for Education, Youth and Information Floyd Green; and Opposition members, Peter Bunting, spokesman on national security, and Fitz Jackson, member of Parliament for Southern St Catherine.
The very idea that Delroy Chuck is on any committee which looks at crime legislation should give every Jamaican not invested in crime pause.
Chuck is one of the biggest coddler of criminals in the Government and a hostile voice against law enforcement.
Bunting, the former Minister of National Security has voiced his objection to certain language in the proposed legislation .
The exact wordage being quote: “This Act should not have the negative impact on Jamaica, which could likely occur if a declaration of a state of public emergency was made”.
Bunting argues that language attempts to give state of emergency-type powers to the security forces without having to declare a state of emergency and make it not subject to Parliamentary review.
There is no problem with the former Minister’s position except that he was in the legislature when the INDECOM Act was being debated , clearly he must have realized that the letter and the spirit of that law was fundamentally flawed but we heard no opposition then.
Bunting was also a member of the Opposition People’s National Party which unanimously refused to grant additional powers to the security forces to extend the limited state of emergency in 2010 to solidify their gains.
Bunting’s Party used the flimsy disgraceful excuse that granting the security forces an extension would allow them to abuse citizens rights.
In so doing Bunting and the PNP threw their lot behind the worst criminal elements in our country.
They could ill afford having the security forces root out the entrenched militias the PNP has in it’s numerous zones of exclusions(garrisons).
Peter Bunting was later to become Minister of National Security , effectively heading the Nation’s security apparatus which he so shamelessly slimed.
During his tenure as Minister Bunting seemingly at a loss at what to do about the crime situation called for divine intervention.
Bunting is a likable character but I place no value on his opposition to any law which is aimed at rooting out crime.
Former Minister Bunting and his Party have had more than enough time to deal with this issue, instead they have overseen the structural, moral , economic, and security decay of our country.
He should support the legislation or shut up…