Scapegoating won’t solve problems, Jack

With curiosity I read Jack Warner’s comments about the reduction in crime ‘without foreigners.’ He seems to think that he can make murders a thing of the past. To be honest I am unaware of any nation in which this is the case or has ever been the case, and do wish that he would inform the public of it if it does.

Warner also mentions that he reduced crime without the help of foreigners. I do wish he would do something about us who feel like foreigners in our own country. I still do not feel safe because I know that murders are not the only problem in this country, nor the worst.

What about the corrupt policemen? What about the people who park on the highways and main roads? What about the spate of robberies in the Diego Martin area? What about the road fatalities and the rampant violation of road regulations? What about the general lack of enforcement? What about that ineffective coast guard? What about the wholesale occupying and decimating of state lands? What about the legal and illegal quarrying in the Northern Range, Uncle Jack?

You see, this mentality of scapegoating is part of the problem. This is how we tend to solve our problems—by blaming other people. We defend our behaviour by basing it on the action or inaction of others. Such phrases as: “If I don’t tief it he go get it instead,” “The police don’t charge nobody for dat, me eh fraid,” “I had to eat ah food too” or “Yuh doh think he doing dat to?”

As if these could ever serve as defences in a court of law.

Isidore Gabriel
via e-mail