Bahamas must avoid Jamaica's shadow and never let our criminals feel powerful enough to challenge the state

Bahamas must avoid Jamaica's shadow
tribune242 editorial:


JAMAICA'S Prime Minister Bruce Golding narrowly survived a bitter no confidence vote in Jamaica's parliament on Tuesday, while the national security minister vowed that the storming of gang-fortified Tivoli Gardens in search of "Dudas" Coke was only the beginning of an all-out assault on armed gangs that are holding Jamaica hostage.

The Bahamas must be especially on its guard at this time to make certain that the "scorched earth" policy to remove Jamaica's gangs does not allow one or two -- even "Dudas" -- to escape through the net and try to disappear into our own drug underworld.

In taking down Tivoli Gardens, "Dudas" Coke's fortified stronghold, the police seized 47 firearms (handguns and rifles) and almost 10,700 rounds of ammunition. In the siege 73 civilians, one Defence Force officer and two policemen were killed. Coke, wanted in the United States to face drug and gun-running charges, disappeared with some of his key supporters. However, this week, his brother, escorted by the Rev Al Miller, a prominent clergyman in Jamaica, turned himself in to police. He was among a list of 50 gang leaders that the police had asked to surrender. It is understood that more than half of them complied.

Rev Miller commended the police for treating Leighton "Livity " Coke with "extreme professionalism" as he called on Livity's brother "Dudas" -- the cause of Jamaica's present turmoil -- to turn himself in. The reverend reminded "Dudas" that if he valued his life his best chance of saving it was to get to the police first. Dudas' gang world is not limited to Jamaica. He is reputed to be an international dealer with his tentacles stretching far and wide.

According Jamaican police they estimate that more than 200 gangs with 4,000 members are operating across Jamaica.

The worst feature of their existence is that the more powerful ones are closely aligned to Jamaica's two political parties. Tivoli Gardens, for example, is a stronghold supporting Prime Minister Golding with "Dudas" Coke delivering the votes at election time. This constituency-within-a-constituency was created and supported by Mr Golding's predecessor, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

This has led this week to Mr Golding's near political demise -- saved only by the two parties voting solidly along party lines, defeating the Opposition's no-confidence motion by two votes. For nine months Mr Golding blocked the US's extradition request for Coke. Eventually after facing tremendous public pressure, the Jamaican government relented, and the court agreed to hear the extradition application. However, in the background, the governing JLP engaged a lobbying firm of lawyers to negotiate the extradition request with the US government.

At first Mr Golding denied having anything to do with this decision. Then three weeks ago, he admitted to parliament that he had in fact approved the hiring of the lobbyists on behalf of his political party, not the Jamaican government.

He apologised to the nation and took full responsibility for his actions.

He has been on the downward slide ever since.

In Tuesday's no-confidence debate the Opposition accused him of deceiving parliament, maintaining that his credibility was irredeemably compromised. In defence a member of his party maintained that the prime minister's contrition and acceptance of responsibility was evidence of the character of a good leader. At the end of the marathon debate the prime minister was saved by two votes.

Now that Government is in control of a well-armed, well-fortified Tivoli Gardens -- one of Jamaica's many gang-controlled constituencies -- it is going after at least four others. The Cabinet has approved anti-gang legislation, which is in the draft stages, to be presented to parliament shortly.

"These gangs," said National Security Minister Dwight Nelson, "are not the little groups of guys standing on the street corner. We are talking about gangs that are organised, that have command structures, with international connections that engage in gun- and drug-running from which they acquire their wealth.

"Our task now," he said, "is to dismantle and destroy these gangs. Our task is to separate them from their communities. Our task is to separate them from their wealth."

Let this be a lesson to the Bahamas. Years ago Sir Etienne Dupuch used to say that the Bahamas always seemed to be walking in Jamaica's downward shadow. Our readers should recall how our own little drug lords were building their communities of loyalty around them, and as a consequence getting too close to some of our politicians -- to such an extent that some of them were openly boasting that they not only expected political protection, but also political favours. We can think of the times that parliament has been lied to, but for some reason members have chosen not to make an issue of it. Many times The Tribune has stood alone pointing out the inconsistencies.

Jamaica's political parties have created the present problem for themselves and their country. In those days politicians seemed to think it the smart way to win elections. They helped build a monster that has now turned on them.

Bahamians must now make certain that our nation steps out of Jamaica's shadow and never let our criminals feel powerful enough to challenge the state.

June 03, 2010

tribune242 editorial

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