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Bunting Defends Crime Thesis
Bunting Defends Crime Thesis
Published: Saturday | July 31, 20101 Comment and 0 Reactions
The Editor, Sir:
The July 28 editorial titled 'Flaccid arguments by The PNP', which dismissed my assessment of the strength and influence of the notorious 'Shower Posse', headquartered in Tivoli Gardens, represents either costly naivete or dangerous denial of the proverbial 800-lb gorilla in the room.
Your account of the People's National Party's interpretation of the recent fall in crime is inaccurate. We are not claiming that 'all crime' in Jamaica was the result of franchise operations of the Shower Posse. However, there is a mountain of information fingering 'Shower', also known as the 'Presidential Click', as the apex criminal organisation in Jamaica. My assertion is that 'Shower' co-opted, directed, or franchised other criminal gangs across the island and overseas, with a high degree of sophistication. It was the disruption of this machinery which lowered violent crimes, not the state of emergency per se.
Authoritative assessment
But this is not my invention; just refer to an authoritative non-political assessment - the US indictment against Coke in August 2009 - which asserts:
"The members of Coke's organisation, known as the 'Shower Posse', and also as 'Presidential Click' (the 'Organisation') reside in Tivoli Gardens, other areas of Jamaica, and in other countries, including the United States.
"Organisation members rely on Coke to assist them in their drug businesses here in the United States and in other countries. Because of Coke's international power and influence, Coke is able to provide protection to Organisation members involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, in the United States and elsewhere."
It is logical that Coke/Shower would provide similar protection to Organisation members in Jamaica in much the same way that it provides to them internationally. My thesis is that disruption of the leadership cadre of the Shower Posse has (at least temporarily) reduced its capacity to provide protection and central direction to gangs like Stone Crusher in St James.
This is the reason why there has been a dramatic fall in violent crimes in parishes like St James, even though these parishes were not covered by the limited state of emergency.
I am, etc.,
PETER BUNTING
Opposition Spokesman
on National Security
Published: Saturday | July 31, 20101 Comment and 0 Reactions
The Editor, Sir:
The July 28 editorial titled 'Flaccid arguments by The PNP', which dismissed my assessment of the strength and influence of the notorious 'Shower Posse', headquartered in Tivoli Gardens, represents either costly naivete or dangerous denial of the proverbial 800-lb gorilla in the room.
Your account of the People's National Party's interpretation of the recent fall in crime is inaccurate. We are not claiming that 'all crime' in Jamaica was the result of franchise operations of the Shower Posse. However, there is a mountain of information fingering 'Shower', also known as the 'Presidential Click', as the apex criminal organisation in Jamaica. My assertion is that 'Shower' co-opted, directed, or franchised other criminal gangs across the island and overseas, with a high degree of sophistication. It was the disruption of this machinery which lowered violent crimes, not the state of emergency per se.
Authoritative assessment
But this is not my invention; just refer to an authoritative non-political assessment - the US indictment against Coke in August 2009 - which asserts:
"The members of Coke's organisation, known as the 'Shower Posse', and also as 'Presidential Click' (the 'Organisation') reside in Tivoli Gardens, other areas of Jamaica, and in other countries, including the United States.
"Organisation members rely on Coke to assist them in their drug businesses here in the United States and in other countries. Because of Coke's international power and influence, Coke is able to provide protection to Organisation members involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, in the United States and elsewhere."
It is logical that Coke/Shower would provide similar protection to Organisation members in Jamaica in much the same way that it provides to them internationally. My thesis is that disruption of the leadership cadre of the Shower Posse has (at least temporarily) reduced its capacity to provide protection and central direction to gangs like Stone Crusher in St James.
This is the reason why there has been a dramatic fall in violent crimes in parishes like St James, even though these parishes were not covered by the limited state of emergency.
I am, etc.,
PETER BUNTING
Opposition Spokesman
on National Security
Comment