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warfare? It is a fact that the most violent crimes occurs in poor inner-city communities. Arcadia and
Grants Pen are both located in the same geographic area, yet Grants Pen residents are accustomed to
standard violent flare-ups whilst Arcadia residents are largely unscathed by such violence. The only
nuisance related to violence experienced by Arcadia residents is the sound of gunfire coming across
from Grants Pen. The same phenomenon exists across many parts of the Corporate area, St.
Catherine and Montego Bay.
Differing Circumstances
Sociologists believe that ones socialization and social environment shapes behaviour patterns. The
average 18-year-old male in upper St. Andrew is much less likely to become a gunman than the
average 18-year-old male in South St. Andrew. In this case there is a dramatic disparity between
both adolescents. One is given a quality education, lives in comfortable housing, has educated and
gainfully employed parents, and is presented with a plethora of options for future satisfaction. The
other is socially and economically marginalized with the odds stacked up against him. As such the
latter is most likely to go the route of crime.
Solutions
The solutions to our crime dilemma as mentioned above require the immediate amelioration of far
too appalling social and economic conditions for the masses. There is also a desperate need for the
reform of our ramshackle justice system. Certainly the trend in economic and social statistics over
the last decade and a half indicates that our crime dilemma will continue to worsen. The last time
Jamaica experienced economic growth was in 1990. Economic growth since then continues to be
worryingly sluggish. The economy between the years 1996 and 1999 actually contracted. If our
economy continues to perform lethargically talk of reducing crime is just, talk. Sustained and
economic growth overtime will bring about a reprieve to many Jamaicans, as overtime employment
opportunities will increase substantially. The real test on the part of the government is to ensure that
economic expansion isnt to the benefit of a few but also to ordinary working class Jamaicans.
On the social side dramatic improvements must be made in housing and education. Some positive
steps have been made in these areas however they are not significant enough and seem to lack
governmental resolve. Government continues to pussyfoot on addressing the wide-ranging problem
in education to the continued detriment of our society. Housing is even more distressing. The simple
fact that large numbers of Kingstonians lack proper sanitary facilities is an absolute embarrassment.
One cannot of course tackle crime without bringing about considerable improvements to the
criminal justice system. G2K, Generation 2000, the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica
Labour Party, has over the last couple weeks presented comprehensive and solution rich reports of
both the justice system and the police force. These recommendations, some of which can be easily
implemented as long as there is the resolve, can go a very far way in eliminating the problems faced
by both critical organs of our nations security apparatus.
Read more: http://jamaicans.com/jamaicacrimedilemma/#ixzz4Jy6N8GCz