Jamaica’s Violence Spirals Further Out Of Control
News of Jamaica’s violence almost kept me from going home. I couldn’t believe that there would come a day when I would feel that way. Oh me of little faith and no wings of steel like Batfink. (You are probably too young to remember Batfink, so go ahead and Google it. I’ll wait till you get back).
So, as I was saying.. I’ve had many a heated argument with friends and relatives who lived abroad. Anyone who bad-mouthed Jamaica was going to get the sharp end of my….umm, response. I did not receive well the criticisms they leveled against my country when most of them were not living in better circumstances anyway. But my day has come.
I just returned from a Jamaica whose media and especially the airwaves keeps the population completely focused on Jamaica’s crime and violence. If at all possible, our infamous ‘Radio Talk Shows’ have grown more depressing. Although it seems these Talk Shows serve a kind of cathartic purpose for frustrated Jamaicans.
There seems to be something liberating in calling to ‘cuss’ politicians on air every single day. After about 3 days of the talk shows driving me ’stark staring mad’ I had to find music to listen to. And I know my mother was happy to see the back of me (not at all) when I left. She has her favourite Talk Show host that she listens to everyday.
I heard enough to know that there are Jamaicans at home and abroad who share the view that we are not taking the right approach to solving the problem of crime and violence. Others are saying as I have said, that the corrective measures required demand sacrifice on the part of persons who are yet to demonstrate a willingness to make those sacrifices. And it is totally baffling why the politicians, including the Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller are so slow in dismantling the so-called ‘garrison communities’. That is one fine place to start!
A month ago, I shared my integrated approach to violence and crime in Jamaica in the Bloggers Unite campaign for Human Rights. At the time of writing that Blog post, I was grappling with the death of an uncle. He was robbed, shot and killed in his home in Jamaica a little over a week before that post. Two days after posting, I received another call from Jamaica telling me of the murders of 2 young men in my hometown. Both were sons of 2 different members of the same circuit of Baptist churches I grew up in.
The following week, the whole Jamaica was again shaken by the news of the shooting of Rev. Dr. George Simpson one of the stalwart ministers of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU). Rev. Simpson pastors the Mt. Carey circuit of Baptist churches in Montego Bay, St. James and has served in that community for 27 years. Dr. George is recuperating from the critical condition he has been in for the past few weeks.
And while I was in Jamaica, at home watching the 7:00pm news and ignoring our dogs barking like crazy, our neighbours were being held at gunpoint in their home by robbers. We gave thanks that their lives were spared. We almost died from shock that the police responded so quickly. And It was a painful reminder that I was home, but in a different Jamaica.
The 2008 Human Rights Report from Amnesty International on Jamaica entitled Let Them Kill Each Other created mere ripples in the muddy waters of Jamaica’s situation. They too made the point that tourists go unharmed, hidden behind the walls of the best All-Inclusive hotels that the island has to offer. While the citizens are helplessly caught in a web of fear, hypocrisy and corruption – The gunmen on one side and justice on the other.
And Jamaica Land We Love, is blood soaked with what appears to be the blood of ‘insignificant’ Jamaicans. And it’s business as usual………….
Are you a Jamaican? Then let’s join minds and hands together to see how we can stir the authorities to action. I am committed to write more on this issue to bring attention to the reality of what is taking place at home.
Are you a fan of Jamaica? Is it one of your favourite destinations or the vacation spot you simply must visit? Why don’t you join us in declaring that you will only visit a country where its citizens are able to enjoy the right of a safe and secure environment?
And of course your comments are welcome.
Peace,
Marvia
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June 18th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Hey Marvia,
Been waiting for a long while for a new post and when you finally do post, it’s about crime in Jamaica! Thanks Marvia! Thanks a lot!
The truth is, the truth hurts! All you’ve said is the truth.
I don’t listen to the news anymore and when I do its just to hear if there is anything interesting in the headlines. Disillusioned am I? Yeah maybe that’s it.
I feel relatively safe. None of this violence has hit home close enough (God forbid it does). Numb to all of this? Yeah maybe I am.
Super confidence and faith in God my Jehovah Nisi? Yeah that’s part of it, which it was a major reason why.
I’ve resolved to just do my one little part. Speak out against the injustice that I come across. Try to get this into the psyche of the youth I teach Sunday School (I teach all boys). So many of them have been sucked into this self-destructive “informer fi dead” rubbish where ppl don’t speak out for fear of reprisal. No one volunteers information or help. I pray that they don’t actually believe the stuff they say but are only outwardly advocating this to be controversial in class.
So yeah I know about the crime, I’m aware of it. I can’t die before God wants me to…
This im sure is far from the right response, dismal. I’ve got hope in God, hope for change but outside of my daily encounters I guess I don’t have that active hope that goes out and goes the extra mile…
Hey I don’t know…
Thanks for the info on Batfink.
Seems like a pretty cool cartoon, If only super solar sonic radar and wings of steel were the answer…
Bless
June 18th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Derri,
Sorry that I had to start with such dreadful news but it hit hard I tell you. It’s not an easy reality to accept and the Amnesty report confirmed what I felt all along.
Remember when I spoke of the power of ‘we’? Well that’s what it will take for Jamaicans at home and abroad to do whatever it takes to have a positive impact on this situation. Change has to come. Can you imagine it otherwise?
Yes we must never ‘cease praying’. However, more of our church members are embroiled in and benefiting from the criminal activity of children and grandchildren. And that is part of the problem as well.
The task is great but not impossible……
Blessings!
June 27th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I am so depressed whenever I think about the violence going on in Jamaica. Sadly I see no end to it.
I will not give up though and a while ago I launched a site that focuses on positive news and info related to Jamaica @ http://www.jamaicapage.com
June 27th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Jamaipanese,
Thanks for visiting.
I quite understand how you feel. It is depressing. However, we have a choice to sink in the depression or choose to do something about it.
Thanks for keeping a positive image of Jamaica alive. I join with others to draw attention to the problem and add pressure where we can. Something has to change – for better not worse.
Thanks for sharing the link to your new site.
Peace,
Marvia
July 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
thanks for visiting and sharing the link with interested persons