Wilson: We are dealing with a generation of vipers
Published:Wednesday | May 11, 2016 | 12:00 AMMark Titus
Western Bureau:
Sergeant Raymond Wilson, the tough-talking chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, is again raising concerns about the nation's resolve to battle lawlessness, especially gun violence, which is making the job of the police increasingly difficult.
While addressing yesterday's opening day of the Federation's 73rd annual joint central conference, which is being held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St James, Wilson raised questions about several matters related to crime, including the nation's lukewarm response to lawlessness, the vast number of illegal guns on the street and the hidden hands financing crime and violence.
"Gone are the days when you could rest assured that a gunman would not harm a child or a woman, but we want to ask the question, when will we wake up and realise that we are dealing with a generation of vipers?" questioned Wilson.
"When will we wake up and see that this generation of vipers may require a similar harsh response to what they are doing to our law-abiding citizens and our hard-working police officers?"
He added: "When will we wake up and face the reality that guns nuh mek a Jamaica, bullets are not manufactured here, yet as soon as we seize two guns off the street, there is a double dose for us to go and look for again."
Pointing out that most gunmen are average Jamaicans who can hardly afford to buy a meal, Wilson said the time has come for the nation to sit down and start the discussion as to how to get to the root cause of crime and those financing it.