My thoughts on…the rash of police killings in Jamaica
This year has been an especially trying one for the police force, especially the past few weeks, as 20 police officers have been killed since the start of the year, the most recent one, 55-year old Sergeant Errol Brown, killed last night. Understandably, Jamaicans are very concerned about this. As am I, because if gunmen don’t fear the police, even dragging one out of his vehicle while negotiating a pothole, removing his helmet and shooting him in the head, then what’s to stop them from taking my own life, or anyone else’s for that matter? The religious among us chalk it up to the Last Days, but I think that’s too easy an explanation.
I’m surprised by the level of hypocrisy of the Jamaican people. We hide the gunmen. We even eat and drink and with them, and refuse top volunteer any information (does the Neighbourhood Watch exist anymore?), and glorify violence, but we bawl openly in front of the camera when we lose one of our own. I consider myself a patriot, but I’m starting to consider migration now, because unless I erect a fortress like the wealthy do, I’m fair game, and I don’t intend to have my bright future cut short by some trigger happy hooligan. This almost reminds me of Order 66 in Star Wars, where the Jedi Order was decimated by the forces of the Sith.
Not saying that Jamaican police are as noble as the Jedi. In fact, they’re some of the most corrupt civil servants you can find. But at the end of the day, they are our only defense against the criminal element. And they seem hellbent on eliminating that defense. This is yet another reason why hanging should be resumed. To hell with Amnesty International! How dare they impose their Western ideals on us! They aren’t going through what we’re going through. I don’t think any of them has spent even a week in Jamaica. Our criminals aren’t interested in stealing old ladies purses or robbing liquor stores. They’re out to disrupt the very fabric of our society, and we cannot let that happen. One thing’s for sure, something drastic has to be done. We can’t simply get a couple more guns and vehicles and hire a British guy like we did in the past. Your move Bruce.
