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PM caved to pressure and announced weak crime plan - commentators
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
The Bruce Golding administration has received a slap in the face with its latest crime plan coming under increased criticism from some quarters.
The new measures, which are likely to remain in effect for at least a year, are being described as weak and ineffective and likely to have little impact on Jamaica's worsening crime problem.
Some public commentators are also criticising the administration for failing to present the draconian measures which were promised by the Prime Minister.
Political Commentator and President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Lloyd B. Smith said the measures will not stem Jamaica's soaring homicide rate.
He added that the proposed legislative changes will have only a temporary effect.
"If you look at those crimes very carefully, a lot of them are reprisals, domestic matters and so forth and I don't know if all these measures that are being announced in essence address those particular types of crime. We will be able to cauterize the thing for a while but at some times, the same way that one puts a band aid on a sore foot, (crime) is going to break out again," said Mr. Smith.
More drastic measures expected
His feelings were shard by Chairman of the Clarendon Crime Prevention Committee Bill Shagourie who said harsher measures are needed.
"Some of these (measures) should deter some of the (crime) but I think there needs to be harsher measures to really put a stop to it. When a person looks at a gun and thinks about using it when he thinks that if he is caught (he will spend) 40 or 50 years, I think he's going to think twice about taking up that gun," said Mr. Shagourie while speaking on RJR's daily discussion programme Beyond the Headlines on Tuesday.
Draconian measures missing
Roman Catholic Deacon Peter Espeut theorises that the Golding administration bowed to pressure from human rights groups and unveiled a watered down crime plan.
"With all the hype about draconian measures coming, I didn't hear anything draconian or maybe the voluble protest by the human rights lobby caused the Prime Minister to pull some punches," he said.
During Tuesday's Parliamentary sitting, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced longer detention for suspects involved in major crimes.
He also declared that conditions for granting bail for these suspects would be much more stringent.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
The Bruce Golding administration has received a slap in the face with its latest crime plan coming under increased criticism from some quarters.
The new measures, which are likely to remain in effect for at least a year, are being described as weak and ineffective and likely to have little impact on Jamaica's worsening crime problem.
Some public commentators are also criticising the administration for failing to present the draconian measures which were promised by the Prime Minister.
Political Commentator and President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Lloyd B. Smith said the measures will not stem Jamaica's soaring homicide rate.
He added that the proposed legislative changes will have only a temporary effect.
"If you look at those crimes very carefully, a lot of them are reprisals, domestic matters and so forth and I don't know if all these measures that are being announced in essence address those particular types of crime. We will be able to cauterize the thing for a while but at some times, the same way that one puts a band aid on a sore foot, (crime) is going to break out again," said Mr. Smith.
More drastic measures expected
His feelings were shard by Chairman of the Clarendon Crime Prevention Committee Bill Shagourie who said harsher measures are needed.
"Some of these (measures) should deter some of the (crime) but I think there needs to be harsher measures to really put a stop to it. When a person looks at a gun and thinks about using it when he thinks that if he is caught (he will spend) 40 or 50 years, I think he's going to think twice about taking up that gun," said Mr. Shagourie while speaking on RJR's daily discussion programme Beyond the Headlines on Tuesday.
Draconian measures missing
Roman Catholic Deacon Peter Espeut theorises that the Golding administration bowed to pressure from human rights groups and unveiled a watered down crime plan.
"With all the hype about draconian measures coming, I didn't hear anything draconian or maybe the voluble protest by the human rights lobby caused the Prime Minister to pull some punches," he said.
During Tuesday's Parliamentary sitting, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced longer detention for suspects involved in major crimes.
He also declared that conditions for granting bail for these suspects would be much more stringent.
TOUGH!
Prime Minister Bruce Golding outlining the new crime-fighting measures in the House of Representatives yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)PRIME Minister Bruce Golding yesterday promised tough new legislative measures to reduce crime, including a minimum 10-year sentence for gun crimes.
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