As we watch the developments in Jamaica unfold, everyone has an opinion on who is to blame. I think there is plenty of blame to go around. I have been watching and watching- practically glued to my computer since Sunday morning - bouncing from Twitter to Facebook to Jamaicatvlive and on the phone with my mom.
Last night on the CVM news the Education Minister relayed that students should prepare to attend school and those sitting exams should plan to do so. Isn’t this the problem that every time there is instability in a country it is the innocent who suffer the most?
Sporadic gunfight is popping up in the streets of Kingston. An air assault is taking place and we are to believe it is business as usual? Especially children? Isn’t this the callousness that got he country to where it is now?
PNP supporters are blaming the JLP. JLP supporters are blaming the PNP. They are both to blame. The PNP was in power for 18 years. The crime situation was never addressed. It sat on the back-burner and was allowed to boil. The JLP came into power with promises of change and to make battling crime a priority. It did not happen.
During the PNP reign, there were scandals after the other and incompetence galore. But, these three years under the JLP make those almost two decades seem rosy. Golding came into power with the help of self-serving businessmen and the now infamous Dudus.
Golding is quite the speech maker. Even those who did not vote for him were impressed by the speech he gave after being sworn in. Promises of accountability and tackling crime were made.
What he did was put a “For Sale” sign on Jamaica. Most notable and perhaps the biggest sore point is Air Jamaica. His lofty ideas of free education and free healthcare plummeted the already decreasing standards. With a large percentage of hotels and businesses being foreign owned and crime eating away at tourism dollars a new deal with the IMF was struck. The solution now was to tax everything possible. As new taxes were imposed on goods and services, property taxes increased up to 60%.
Since taking office Golding has been portraying himself as a tough leader. So, when the opportunity for him to show himself as a strong leader came he grabbed it. The U.S. requested the extradition of a citizen accused of several crimes. Golding got personal involved and denied the request. Many in the public supported his decision based on what he said the reasons for the denial were. Many Jamaicans were proud that their Prime Minister stood up for the rights of a fellow citizen. What most did not know at the time was that Golding was not standing up for Jamaica. He was protecting his own interest. He had personal ties with the accused. He chose to jeopardize the interests of the country to protect himself. As the tangled story began to unravel, the public began to see Golding in another light and cries for his resignation mounted.
In an attempt to save face, Golding apologized for his involvement in the case and recalled the denial of extradition. No new information was released as to why the extradition was now valid and supporters of Dudus began their protest. The supporters specifically from the Tivoli Gardens area, erected barricades and barriers, sealing themselves from the outside. Women appeared on the news to show their support for Dudus, who many claimed schooled their children and they were now willing to die for him. They were allowed to continue their protest with slight objection from the government even though it did have an impact on the rest of the city and most specially the students who could not attend school.
On Sunday, 23rd of May in the middle of the Labour Day weekend, the pot boiled over. Three police stations were simultaneously firebombed. The “war” officially started and an emergency cabinet meeting was called. The meeting resulted in a State of Emergency being called. (It was to been in effect later that day and not immediately.) The response from the thugs/gunmen/criminals (I suppose insurgence is incorrect because they have no desire to lead) was an all out assault on the police. Brazen attacks were mounted in the streets of Kingston.
In the evening Golding addressed the nation with a 4 minute speech that did little to calm anyone much less reassure the public that the situation was not as bleak as the footage appeared. He actually said “it was business as usual.”
On Monday, Labor Day, attacks continued. The security forces mounted their strongest attack and entered Tivoli Gardens both by air and ground assaults.
Now given the background, here, is where I get a little bothered. - As I mentioned, people from Tivoli Gardens were on T.V. last week professing their loyalty to Dudus and their willingness to die for him. One quote now famous “Jesus died for us, so we will die for Dudus.” Women were proud to say that Dudus sent their X number of children to school. Others were defending their men saying that they stood behind their men “because when they are hungry the men go out and rob people so they can eat.” What does this say? Anyone who thinks this situation would have ended peacefully or even with little bloodshed is delusional. This was not some spontaneous occurrence. This was a planned and organized effort to attack by Dudus and his troops.
Yesterday when the air assault was on the way, women were calling in to the radio and TV. news shows claiming they were under attack and were fearful. Really??? Now what did these people think would happen when they challenged the State? They pointblank said it is them against the rest of society.
Now all of a sudden people are calling for humanity. Where was the humanity when Jamaica rose to the murder capital of the world. Where was the humanity when children, children were/are being murdered. Everyone says get rid of the garrisons. How?
Some are saying these people have no opportunities. I bet if you went there to hire people to work they would tell you “they can’t work for no little bit of money.” I am not saying all the people living there are the same but the majority think they live in a sovereign territory and prey on the rest of the society.
I feel for the children. Many of the children know their way out is through education. They have been preparing for months to sit exams this week and now they are watching their future evaporate. These are who I feel for …. I am sorry … not the grown-ups who do have choices. Why would robbing someone else, who worked for what they have, be seen as the only choice you have. It is not! Obviously they think their life is worth more than law abiding citizens.
No comments:
Post a Comment