While the murders continue unabated, we just received another round of stats coming from the current Minister of National Security. This time it's "ten known gang members" who are apparently behind most murders.Perhaps the medium the Minister employed–the soundbites under parliamentary privileges and post-cabinet conferences–intended to send fear into the hearts of criminals, never made its way to the nation's landfills, hot spots and killing gardens.
I recall a former Minister of National Security, a Mr Martin Joseph (appointed to that post in 2003), who, once upon a time, also told us he knew how many gangs there were. He even knew their membership, their numbers and location. In this land of the ten-day wonder, Mr Joseph has since faded away into the distant past.People have less confidence in the police today, despite police claims, and are refusing to report crimes, because they see the police as a complete waste of time.
But using numbers to "mamaguy" a vulnerable population makes good public relations.I write about crime as I look at our neighbour, Jamaica, and see where they are and where we are. There's a lot to learn from the Jamaican experience, as we share a lot in common, including a dysfunctional, two-party system, driven by megalomaniacs, who superimpose party on the nation.
The tit-for-tat politics–of who did what, and stole how much–has become the precedent for doing the same–with no shame.
Rudy Chato Paul, Sr
via e-mail