In a recent national newspaper poll, 57% of Jamaicans indicated that crime was the most important social issue in the country. That’s not surprising given that according to the Jamaica Constable Force, 1241 people have been murdered in 2008 this year alone.
According to widespread public opinion, this state of affairs is a result of three decades of fierce political tribalism between the two governmental parties that affects society top to bottom. So, it is with more than a hint of irony that politicians from both sides of Parliament recently have united against crime.
Heightened political tribalism began in the late 1970’s when the United States became uncomfortable with the political leadership in Jamaica. Michael Manley, a charismatic Prime Minister, was a self declared democratic socialist. The country was proudly non-aligned in the Cold war and was evolving into Manley’s dream of becoming a democratic socialist state.
During this time political turf wars did occur, but they were fought with fists and knives. The governing leftist People’s National Party (PNP) controlled the country’s guns. The army and police acted on the PNP’s behalf to maintain ‘order’. The United States was afraid of having a socialist state so close to Cuba and the U.S. So Jimmy Carter’s Administration supported a CIA-sanctioned campaign providing the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with guns and additional equipment.
As a result, the 1980 election was nothing short of a blood bath between JLP and PNP. Members of Parliament and opposition candidates supplied their supporters with guns to bring out the vote. Politicians also developed private security entourages that protected them where ever they went. 3000 people are thought to have been murdered during the election period alone.
Many communities of lower social and economic status ended up voting unanimously in favor of one party. The JLP returned to power; and regrettably, ‘The Garrison’ was formed.
According to Martin Henry of Jamaica’s Sunday Gleaner, the garrisons provided two functions for the political leadership:
a) They were the main channel for distributing the scarce benefits from Government. The garrison leaders or ‘Dons’ became the main broker between the members of Parliament and the local communities.
According to widespread public opinion, this state of affairs is a result of three decades of fierce political tribalism between the two governmental parties that affects society top to bottom. So, it is with more than a hint of irony that politicians from both sides of Parliament recently have united against crime.
Heightened political tribalism began in the late 1970’s when the United States became uncomfortable with the political leadership in Jamaica. Michael Manley, a charismatic Prime Minister, was a self declared democratic socialist. The country was proudly non-aligned in the Cold war and was evolving into Manley’s dream of becoming a democratic socialist state.
During this time political turf wars did occur, but they were fought with fists and knives. The governing leftist People’s National Party (PNP) controlled the country’s guns. The army and police acted on the PNP’s behalf to maintain ‘order’. The United States was afraid of having a socialist state so close to Cuba and the U.S. So Jimmy Carter’s Administration supported a CIA-sanctioned campaign providing the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with guns and additional equipment.
As a result, the 1980 election was nothing short of a blood bath between JLP and PNP. Members of Parliament and opposition candidates supplied their supporters with guns to bring out the vote. Politicians also developed private security entourages that protected them where ever they went. 3000 people are thought to have been murdered during the election period alone.
Many communities of lower social and economic status ended up voting unanimously in favor of one party. The JLP returned to power; and regrettably, ‘The Garrison’ was formed.
According to Martin Henry of Jamaica’s Sunday Gleaner, the garrisons provided two functions for the political leadership:
a) They were the main channel for distributing the scarce benefits from Government. The garrison leaders or ‘Dons’ became the main broker between the members of Parliament and the local communities.
b) The Member of Parliament retained his territorial support, while the dons were able to acquire wealth and local power as well as protection from the law.
Garrisons have evolved into communities that operate outside the law, commonly controlled by a Don who governs with an iron fist. While the vast majority of inner city (or Garrison) residents live around the poverty line, the local Dons have become wealthy men. These communities are designed so that police are unable penetrate them. Many Garrisons are guarded around the clock, keeping out unwanted ‘visitors.’ Often the narrow street into a Garrison is blockaded with tire piles to prevent drive-by shootings.
In the beginning, the Dons relied solely on their political master for guns, protection and ‘contracts,’ but many have grown strong enough to participate independently in the regional drug trade. In the Caribbean, Dons take full advantage of the active exchange between drugs and guns. More recently they have been able to mask themselves in a veil of legitimacy as owners of construction or commercial real estate companies.
The Dons do give back marginally to their communities and fund the odd community event, but usually only in order to demonstrate their control. Over time, their power and independence has increased to the point where the politicians are unable to control them.
Given the innate relationship between the garrisons and crime, it is perhaps less ironic now to see politicians united on the issue of crime and violence prevention. If the politicians were sincere about changing the current reality, they would do more than increase criminal penalties and hiring more police – they would begin the long and costly effort to dismantle the Garrison culture that rules and oppresses inner city communities in Jamaica.
Garrisons have evolved into communities that operate outside the law, commonly controlled by a Don who governs with an iron fist. While the vast majority of inner city (or Garrison) residents live around the poverty line, the local Dons have become wealthy men. These communities are designed so that police are unable penetrate them. Many Garrisons are guarded around the clock, keeping out unwanted ‘visitors.’ Often the narrow street into a Garrison is blockaded with tire piles to prevent drive-by shootings.
In the beginning, the Dons relied solely on their political master for guns, protection and ‘contracts,’ but many have grown strong enough to participate independently in the regional drug trade. In the Caribbean, Dons take full advantage of the active exchange between drugs and guns. More recently they have been able to mask themselves in a veil of legitimacy as owners of construction or commercial real estate companies.
The Dons do give back marginally to their communities and fund the odd community event, but usually only in order to demonstrate their control. Over time, their power and independence has increased to the point where the politicians are unable to control them.
Given the innate relationship between the garrisons and crime, it is perhaps less ironic now to see politicians united on the issue of crime and violence prevention. If the politicians were sincere about changing the current reality, they would do more than increase criminal penalties and hiring more police – they would begin the long and costly effort to dismantle the Garrison culture that rules and oppresses inner city communities in Jamaica.
