Mark Wignall | Are you better off or worse off?

As the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) prepares for the public rollout of its annual conference, one of the key questions that the party must ask itself is: Has any of the policies drafted in the last year made life better for a significant number of our people? When Jamaicans look back at 2016 when the JLP came to power, do they rate the party and Government more favourably, or do they see it failing in key areas?

The answer cannot be, yes, we have kept the economy on an even keel, and fiscal responsibility is going in the right direction. It must go beyond that. It must say, yes, we have moved the needle in people’s daily lives.

Has service delivery across government agencies shown steady improvement, or does it still show signs of frustrating us? Long wait times and bureaucratic logjams.

Where needed, are you able to identify and access funds for your child’s tertiary education? For the poorer class, how have the actions of the Government contributed to the economic betterment of their household and the funding of their young children’s daily educational needs and nutritional intakes?

To the JLP, this is a political time. But in terms of Jamaica being true to the gun culture of the last 40 years, this is also a time when the gun reigns supreme.

States of emergency (SOEs) have been announced in multiple parishes. The opposition People’s National Party (PNP) believes that these SOEs are political and designed to give the JLP popular talking points at its conference.

Of course there is a political element to it. It’s what political parties do.

IF NOT SOE, WHAT THEN?

The troubling dilemma that has increasingly become part of the approach to crime fighting is that the Government has not yet identified any other means of controlling its homicide rate short of shooting down suspected criminals in the streets. And that, of course, is not something the security forces can do openly.

Although the criminal gangs have had an extended period to study the security modus operandi during SOEs, the JLP has no other option but to fall back on what will obviously become less effective the more it is used.

The big complication is that we are constantly told that the basis on which SOEs are launched is recommendation by the security forces. Do I believe this? No I do not. Fighting crime requires all the necessary factions to vote together. The PM and the Cabinet and, of course, the security chiefs.

The heads of the army and the Jamaica Constabulary Force are bright and intelligent. It seems to me that although diminishing returns on the SOEs are inevitable the JLP administration is banking on the psychology behind how an increase in the homicide rate is assimilated. As an example, a geographical area may show a steady (high) rate or slight increase, but because the people know the security forces are ‘in the area,’ they feel ‘safer.’

DESPERATION DOESN’T EXPLAIN ZIP FM

The first time I saw the video of an unnamed young man intimidating passengers in a cab and forcing them out, two conclusions arose.

One: He was acting on behalf of some of the taxi men imposing their will on the travelling public. Two: The body language and facial snare and him clutching a stick like a ‘weapon’ in one hand created the image of him being a criminal enforcer.

It was more than a joy to see him arrested and then to hear that he was charged for his obvious crimes. And yet ZIP FM lets him inside their doors and enjoys a yuk-yuk laughy-laughy moment. And the video goes viral.

At my most sarcastic, ZIP FM decided that the interaction with that young man was worth the while to hold him up as a joke that only they understand.

It would seem to me that someone at the radio station must be by now superapologetic and wanting to hide under a desk in shame. That I could understand. The written apology seems somewhat withered. Or just half-done.

On the other hand it may be said that the radio station took a risk at grabbing at a most convenient but stupid choice, knowing that the negatives would only drive a frenzy in its name and reach. Maybe there was no such calculation, but the possibility of it and the likelihood cannot be ruled out by some. But of all the simple words that anyone of us can say to ZIP FM, the easiest would be: Shame on you!

FIGHTING BACK CRIME

According to my lawyer friend, “What is frustrating is that the Government is doing the same thing over and over. Curfews, cordons, searches, SOEs and occupying the space. Each of these ‘operations’ results in people being detained. But many hire good lawyers, get bail, and are out again, or the DPP cannot make cases in court against the criminals due to poor police work, inept evidence gathering, witnesses not coming forward, and overall inattention to details. Until the criminals are convicted on a regular basis to long prison terms, they simply work the system. ”

It is his view based on years in the system: “Government is taking its eye off the ball. Resource the DPP, train the police to be better at making cases, gathering evidence, being meticulous, getting convictions and then along with increased pressure on the criminals you have a chance. Why is it so hard for the Government to see the playing field properly? The SOEs will allow for some indefinite detention, but again, at the end of detention, most of the detained walk.”

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.