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Don't go there, Minister Smith
Monday, December 10, 2007
Three months after his party's electoral triumph in parliamentary elections, National Security Minister Mr Derrick Smith finds himself an embattled man. He is under scrutiny from all sides and under attack from several quarters.
As if the soaring murder rate and the numerous cries from civil society for urgent action were not trouble enough, the chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson, has accused the minister of failing to pay due attention to an escalation of attacks against the security forces.
In fact, there appears to be a strong sentiment in the police force that the new Government is more interested in dealing with police excesses than in combating crime.
Given all the pressure, we are pleased that the minister has assured the nation that his administration will not "panic". For while this newspaper joins the rest of the nation in urging swift, decisive action on crime, we are aware that knee-jerk, panic reactions will not help.
Even while we recognise the imperative of speed, this newspaper believes that anti-crime strategies must be properly thought out, bearing in mind all contingencies.
Crucially, anti-crime measures must seek to embrace the support of the general populace, including the political opposition. We have long contended, for example, that the political parties which command great sway at the street level must play a more proactive role in rooting out crime in our communities.
But that won't happen as long as crime remains a political football, with politicians using it as a means to score points or to make their opponents look bad.
So it is then, that we are extremely disturbed by a report in this newspaper early last week in which Mr Smith is reported to have told party supporters in the build-up to last Wednesday's Local Government Elections that there was something "mysterious" and "suspicious" about the recent "spike" in murders.
Said Mr Smith: "After all previous general elections we have seen this trend where there is a sudden lull. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, and mysteriously after this elections that did not happen. We saw the creep in the month of October, and again in the month of November."
Mr Smith may not have said so in as many words, but the implication is obvious. We are left to assume that Mr Smith was suggesting that there may well be some sort of orchestration of the current events on the part of his political opponents.
No doubt those words from Mr Smith, like the foolishness uttered from similar platforms by his colleagues Mr Everald Warmington and Mr Bobby Montague, energised the party faithful on the night. We are here to tell Mr Smith that for the rest of us, his barely concealed allegation just sounded like a sick throwback to tribal politics.
It's the kind of nonsense we cannot afford if we are all to stand together, as one, against the criminals. After 18 years in Opposition it is perhaps understandable that it has taken time for Mr Smith and his colleagues to fully appreciate that they are now in Government. But after three months, we believe it is now full time.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Three months after his party's electoral triumph in parliamentary elections, National Security Minister Mr Derrick Smith finds himself an embattled man. He is under scrutiny from all sides and under attack from several quarters.
As if the soaring murder rate and the numerous cries from civil society for urgent action were not trouble enough, the chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson, has accused the minister of failing to pay due attention to an escalation of attacks against the security forces.
In fact, there appears to be a strong sentiment in the police force that the new Government is more interested in dealing with police excesses than in combating crime.
Given all the pressure, we are pleased that the minister has assured the nation that his administration will not "panic". For while this newspaper joins the rest of the nation in urging swift, decisive action on crime, we are aware that knee-jerk, panic reactions will not help.
Even while we recognise the imperative of speed, this newspaper believes that anti-crime strategies must be properly thought out, bearing in mind all contingencies.
Crucially, anti-crime measures must seek to embrace the support of the general populace, including the political opposition. We have long contended, for example, that the political parties which command great sway at the street level must play a more proactive role in rooting out crime in our communities.
But that won't happen as long as crime remains a political football, with politicians using it as a means to score points or to make their opponents look bad.
So it is then, that we are extremely disturbed by a report in this newspaper early last week in which Mr Smith is reported to have told party supporters in the build-up to last Wednesday's Local Government Elections that there was something "mysterious" and "suspicious" about the recent "spike" in murders.
Said Mr Smith: "After all previous general elections we have seen this trend where there is a sudden lull. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, and mysteriously after this elections that did not happen. We saw the creep in the month of October, and again in the month of November."
Mr Smith may not have said so in as many words, but the implication is obvious. We are left to assume that Mr Smith was suggesting that there may well be some sort of orchestration of the current events on the part of his political opponents.
No doubt those words from Mr Smith, like the foolishness uttered from similar platforms by his colleagues Mr Everald Warmington and Mr Bobby Montague, energised the party faithful on the night. We are here to tell Mr Smith that for the rest of us, his barely concealed allegation just sounded like a sick throwback to tribal politics.
It's the kind of nonsense we cannot afford if we are all to stand together, as one, against the criminals. After 18 years in Opposition it is perhaps understandable that it has taken time for Mr Smith and his colleagues to fully appreciate that they are now in Government. But after three months, we believe it is now full time.
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