University of the West Indies lecturer Dr Herbert Gayle last week delivered the American Friends of Jamaica/Sue Cobb Lecture. He examined the country's crime problem and offered possible solutions. Today, we present excerpts:
Homicide nightmare
In the region, high rates of homicide are a transition nightmare! Prior to independence, all English-speaking Caribbean countries had homicide rates below 10 per 100,000. Today, only Barbados has remained consistently at this pre-independence rate and this is because it is the only recognised developed country in the region.
Most violent region
The Caribbean is the most violent region in the world. At 30 per 100,000, it is three times higher than the world's average. Many Caribbean countries have homicide rates at the civil war benchmark, with more than 1,000 combatants dying yearly (Jamaica) or for countries with populations below one million, homicide rates exceeding 30 (Belize). The top-20 most violent states are dominated by Caribbean countries. Even worse, the rate is growing and showing no sign of slowing down.
Why boys join gangs
Some inner cities are so violent and isolated that youth need to be associated with a protective group. Policing of garrisons is primarily about attacking rather than community policing so youth have to protect themselves from rival gangs as well as from the police.
Low conviction rate
Only one of five persons who kill someone gets convicted in Jamaica. This largely explains the gang dilemma. This means there is little deterrence from gang activity and murder. Unless the conviction rate is increased, you will have mounting gang problems as recruitment is easy.
Gang life pays!
Almost all small gangs are aligned to larger ones which are connected to massive confederations that help each other. Membership in even one petty gang can provide the contacts to allow a youth to join or receive illegal jobs or money from larger gangs that have resources from the international drug economy. Local merchants and politicians are also involved. Gang membership is one certain way of 'moving up'. Gang life pays!
Excessive waste, corruption
There is a lack of resources (to fight the crime problem) but the Caribbean is not poor, though not rich. The bigger problem is that the region is discussed abroad as one of excessive waste of scarce resources: due mostly to mismanagement, especially from reactive policies; project mode instead of programme, and duplication; and corruption, driven by a culture of high tolerance for lack of accountability.
How to fix problem
Develop and sustain a welfare system that covers the bottom quintile and include the base of the near poor and temporary poor; do not attempt health for all.
Compulsory, full funded education up to grade 11.
Heavily subsidised to fully funded second-chance education by 2020.
Expand the 'Best Practice' of Children First and other advocates for street children.
Housing and sanitation construction and renewal: rapid reduction of the number of inner-city dwellers.
A system to subsidise utilities so no one has to live by stealing electricity and trade favours for water.
Develop and expand Apprenticeship programmes so every business invest in the country's youth.