In Jamaica, illegally operated taxis and buses have long been known as 'robots'. And The Gleaner's report yesterday on Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields' advice to the public, in general and women in particular, has reinforced the 'robotic' spin on the surge of horrific crimes.

Shields was reported as saying that criminals posing as taxi operators have been responsible for some of the major crimes against women and children, including murder.

"If I could have my way, I would love the police to give a 100 per cent focus on illegal taxis particularly and the registration of licensed cabs," Shields said.

Of course, the qualification 'if I could have my way' leaves us to wonder at the extent of Shields' power, the resources available to the police and the will within the police force to address this 'robotic' matter.

And certainly robot can be used to apply not only to the illegally operated taxis, but also the murderers and rapists who drive them. For the harm which the criminals visit upon their victims, not being satisfied to rape and even kill but seeming to have the need to savage and mutilate, betrays the grossest level of barbarity.

But back to that matter of will. In yesterday's story, Shields went on to say that "I think there is complete anarchy among taxi drivers. Part of the reason is that I know that many police officers own and operate taxis and buses and I think that is totally unacceptable".

Crux of the matter

And here we have the crux of the matter. It is impossible to apply the law unevenly without extreme disgruntlement and the drivers of robots would certainly know which of their colleagues are driving on behalf of police officers. So, the police have an internal problem that needs to be addressed to reduce extraordinary crimes that have a severe impact on the psyche of the nation in general and women and children in particular.

We are not ignorant of the simplest of market forces behind the robotic crimes. There are simply more persons who need transportation, especially in the Corporate Area, then there are Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses at peak hours. In addition, robots still operate after the JUTC buses have ceased daily operations and are a much cheaper alternative to hiring a taxi.

So, the public transportation system has to be improved significantly if we are to close the cracks between destinations into which so many women and children fall fatally.

But while addressing police officers' ownership of illegal taxis and buses and beefing up the 'white buses' is a tall order, there is another aspect to the conundrum which is intangible and hence even more difficult to tackle. We live in a country where hustling is a way of life and to 'eat a food' is the end that justifies many a means.

Therefore, the robot operators and the commuting public see eye to eye on 'eating a food', whether it is getting the money from providing the illegal service or getting to various places quickly and cheaply so as to maximise economic potential, despite the fact that it gives predators a mobile killing field.

And we fear that tackling this hustling mentality will prove the hardest task of all.

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