Jamaica Can Stop Crime Without Fighting It
In the United States, the "War on Drugs" brought more drugs and the "War on Terrorism" brought more attacks. May I suggest to you, that maybe... just maybe, Jamaica can stop Crime without Fighting it.
Calling on a higher power, the Defense Minister declared a State of Emergency on numerous occasions and maintained several Zones of Special Operation (ZOSO) throughout 2019. Despite this heavy increase in military presence and the involuntary sacrifices made by businesses, families and residents of volatile communities, Jamaica still managed to record 1,332 murders at the end of last year.
In a presentation to the Senate this January, Sen. Damion Crawford highlighted some known crime contributors, along with several anti-crime strategies which have been proving effective in other countries. This forced me to consider my own experiences, during the years that I've lived outside of Jamaica. His presentation marked the following:
"Alcohol consumption plays a part in 40% of violent crimes"
In Jamaica, everyone can get liquor almost anywhere. Every bar I've known has the same "It is my intention to apply for an alcohol licence.." sign posted, since I was a child. Speaking of which, any child can walk into a shop and get his snacks, sweets, cigarettes and rum, all at the same time. But to my point, when does it stop being an intention? At what stage does compliance become mandatory? If we are serious about crime, we will enforce strict policies around the sale and consumption of alcohol. In Canada for instance, one of the few places I am able to buy my wines is from a LCBO store. These are stores managed by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario - LCBO. Get it? The government is my Bartender.
"Deterrence Policing" - maintaining police presence in social hot spots
Incidentally, bus parks and markets in Jamaica are known to experience high levels of extortion and gun violence. Yet, how often can we find police officers here? Instead, our esteemed officers can most often be found parked at the Bog Walk Roundabout, in that spot on Dunrobin Ave, or in any 80 km/h Zone on any leg of the highways. We don't have a Traffic Police Force, do we? Why aren't greater efforts placed elsewhere?
"Lengthened Years of School"
Our education system has many success stories, but it's failures cannot go unnoticed. Everyone will not be a doctor or lawyer, so where have all the Skills Training Institutions gone? England has many FREE Programs to keep young people - potentially unattached youth, in learning institutions. For instance, I worked with a UK City College that maintains a School Leavers Program which accommodates students up to 19 y/o, as well as an Adult Learners Program for those 19 y/o and over. As I understand it, a primary goal of these programs is to deter antisocial behavior. In this scenario, Education is merely a side effect.
Jamaica's response to crime, has for too long been reactive. It is reported that in 2018, the Government allocated approximately $2Bn to National Security. That year closed with a homicide rate of 1,208. Last year however, a whopping $41Bn was allocated, yet 2019 reaped more murders than prior years. More Jamaicans were killed last year, despite the government's extra $39Bn spend. How was this $41Bn spent? You certainly don't fight crime by throwing money at it.
Unattached Youth refers to young people who are unemployed or outside of the labor force, and not in school or in training.There is no shortage of research to show the correlation between crime and the vulnerable young. We have an over abundance of examples on "how crime has crippled, is crippling and will cripple our society."
Spent differently, $39Bn in tax dollars can keep more young people in schools, train more skilled workers, build more recreational spaces, fund social outreach initiatives...ultimately stopping crime before it starts.
Jamaica is in trouble. Jamaican lives are in trouble. Jamaica's future is in trouble.
Working in technology has taught me that the only way to resolve a system issue, is to address its Root Cause. I challenge the government to be guided by this.
