Lessons From Jamaica
Published on: 5/27/2010. Nation News. Barbados. by TENNYSON JOSEPH , lecturer in political science at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados
THE CARIBBEAN has watched in bewilderment as the Ja-maica government has slid into crisis over Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s involvement in efforts to block the extradition to the United States of an alleged gun and drug runner, Christopher “Dudus” Coke.
Emerging first as a disagreement with the US on the “legality” of the extradition of Coke, the situation has since descended into an all-out war between the security forces and the organised criminal gangs in Golding’s constituency determined to protect their “don”.
As this is being written, the reports are that six policemen have been shot, and two have died. The gravity of the situation cannot be un-derstated, particularly since it has brought to the fore the deep links between the political directorate and the organised criminal elements of Jamaica.
Crime and Politics linked
The link between crime and politics has now been crudely exposed. The international dimension has only served to exacerbate the difficulties for Jamaica.
Before, however, the rest of the Caribbean begins to shrug the prob-lem off as a Jamaican problem, we should all take careful note of similar trends in Caribbean politics.
We have not yet seen the emergence of “garrison constituencies” (in Barbados), but we have had too many examples of the criminalisation of the state for us to be comfortable.
On top of all this is evidence of organised gang activity, linked to a growing gun and drug trade, which have taken root in many urban constituencies across the Caribbean.
Indeed the Eastern Caribbean differs from Jamaica in degree, but not in kind.
Since the end of the ideologically-based politics of the 1970s to the mid-1980s, politics in the Caribbean has tended to be fought along lines largely revolving around the material comfort of voters, state handouts to citizens, and contracts for large and small public works. … continued ..
Read Full article > GUEST COLUMN – Lesson from Jamaica
OTHER COMMENTARIES – Jamaica’s Dudas Affair
( click on titles to read the commentaries)
Jamaica’s business is the Caribbean’s business– by Sir Ronald Sanders, commentator, Caribbean region..
A convenient AFFAIR- Bruce & Dudus – by Ian Boyce, Contributor, Jamaica Gleaner Newspaper
Tivoli bangarang– by Ian Boyce, Contributor, Jamaica Gleaner Newspaper.
How The CIA Created The Jamaican Shower Posse– By Casey Gane McCalla. – NewsOne—for black America
Shotta – the image re some males in Jamaica – by Paul H Williams, Jamaica Gleaner Writer
The Real Conflict in Jamaica– by “Gadgetcypher” . An interesting analysis with related links. The writers opinion that the Dudas affair is just a smokescreen to get greater control of Jamaica OIL … yes OIL! Surprised?
