Most of us are familiar with the maxim, 'If you keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep on getting what you are getting'. Put another way, we cannot continue to do the same things in the same way, or even different versions of the same things, if we expect different results. I refer to attempts to reduce murders in Jamaica.

We all know that policing alone is not enough. Doubling the number of men and women in the police force will not make a difference, even if we remove all those who are corrupt. Having soldiers on every street corner will not have any lasting effect, as long as there are people among us who think that it is all right to take the lives of other human beings. These people will simply bide their time and strike when the opportunity arises.

It is time for a radical approach to crime and violence. We need to do things that we have never done before. We will not find a model to copy. We will have to think for ourselves. We have the capacity to do this. Do we have the will? Do we really want things to change? Are we just looking at the Ministry of National Security for answers?

Extraordinary times

It is time for each ministry to take on the business of protecting life and property as a portfolio responsibility. These are extraordinary times. Without life there is nothing else. Protection of life and property can no longer be left to one group or entity. What can each member of parliament and councillor do to make a difference in each constituency or division? All of this is in addition to good policing. The intention is not to take over the job of the police.

We cannot continue to have a society where people "murder people in broad daylight" and roam free, knowing fully well, that they are safe. The maxim is 'He that keeps his mouth keeps his life', but for how long? No one is safe until the thought of taking the life of another human being becomes reprehensible to more Jamaicans. Peace and prosperity will continue to elude us if we ignore the bloodletting in our land and continue with business as usual.

I am, etc.,

Winnie Anderson-Brown

winab@cwjamaica.com