Following the Crime in Jamaica thread, I promised I'd find the letter and post it. It was dated July 15, 2002. Coincidentally, less than a month later, my sister's ex-husband (who was still present in her and her kids' life), was murdered.
I sent the letter via another member of government at the time, who is a family friend so I am assuming he got it. Maybe I should write it to Bobby Montague 
15 July 2002
Hon Dr Peter Phillips
Minister of National Security & Justice
2 Oxford Road
Kingston 5
Dear Minister Phillips,
Although the perfect opportunity presented itself while you were in the company of _________ during the 5th Test match against India at Sabina Park, I was hesitant about bringing up the following points with you. This reluctance was not out of any uncertainty as to your reaction, but rather because I am not sure that politics would have got your undivided attention at such an intriguing stage of the test match. Now I hope to have your full attention as I share my opinions with you, as a young educated professional Jamaican.
I love my country. That is without doubt, however, in 1997 I made the conscious decision to migrate from Jamaica to Grenada. The reasons were two-fold. I wanted to experience a different tourism environment in the form of a small resort hotel as opposed to the Pegasus where I worked for 8 years. As a single woman, I did not feel comfortable moving to any of Jamaica’s resort areas. The second reason was because of the economic, and by extension, the crime situation, which I did not envision improving to any acceptable state in the near future. Sadly, my vision was correct, and on each subsequent short trip back home, I get more and more disheartened.
Earlier this year I read the plan you outlined for dealing with the unbearable crime situation in Jamaica, and thought it was a very detailed attempt at bringing the situation under control. I however noted that some of the main points were to increase equipment, manpower and technology, along with your aim to have every square inch of Jamaica policed. I imagine in the short term, this is what might be needed, however, permit me to suggest that for long-term sustenance of a crime free state, the economic and social issues have to be examined and then their root causes addressed.
One of the things that raised my stress level prior to migrating, was the lawlessness portrayed by drivers, as well as the traffic congestion. This seemingly minor irritant changed my state of mind. On relocating to Grenada, where traffic is almost non-existent and drivers are more polite, I managed to maintain a calm spirit. What I am illustrating here is that one’s surroundings which have to be faced daily, can have a marked impact on one’s state of mind. I cannot imagine what it must be like living in a one-room zinc house with a family of more than 2 persons. But many of my countrymen have no choice, for various reasons. I cannot imagine the state of mind of someone living in this situation. In fact, I would suggest that they are not living at all, but merely existing.
After the 100 Lane/Park Lane massacre, I read where one resident called for the government to bulldoze all the shacks in the area and build proper houses for them. She suggested that this would enable them to live more peacefully. To me, this may make sense. If the government were to be really bold and address the inner city areas, with social programmes to get lives back to being worth something, I believe it would make a dramatic impact on the crime levels in Jamaica.
One of the aims of your plan, and I have also heard the Police Commissioner mention it, is to stem the drug trade. I think this is definitely one of the keys to lowering the crime rate, however, has the government given a lot of attention to collaborating with their counterparts in the demand generating countries of North America and Europe? Dealers sell drugs because there is a demand for it, and although I do not have any figures to support this, I would not imagine that Jamaicans could afford to purchase all of the illegal drugs that pass through Jamaica. We know the island is being used as a trans-shipment point and the addition of boats to the Coast Guard is a step in the right direction.
The recent spate of police killings is a cause for concern. The last three (up to the date of writing) occurred while I was again in Jamaica, having returned from a few peaceful weeks in the Eastern Caribbean where as a single woman, I went about my business without any fear. The one which occurred on Olivier Road was the most frightening. I could have been traveling behind the marked police car. Needless to say I would have been scared out of my pants, as I am every time I go out at night in Jamaica. I cannot come to terms with this, and so in the meantime, while the government tries to sort out these and other problems, I stay very far from Jamaica, and try and spend a maximum of two weeks when I return for a visit.
I am suggesting that your government channels money into re-building the social fabric, including the family units in Jamaica. Young children must see hope. Other issues such as family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and work ethic have to be addressed through education, not just for school age children but for adults who did not have the benefit of a proper education. I feel that the crime rate in Grenada is low because there is still a very strong sense of community. We have lost that in Jamaica and need to somehow regain it. Then if your government creates more jobs, people who earn a salary must be able to live above the poverty line. I am not familiar with economics at all, but I often wonder if we can reduce or restrict imports and encourage more local production with better incentives, in an attempt to reduce the cost of living.
My parents are not getting younger, and I would have liked to be still living there to be with them, but under the present circumstances, I will not. I sometimes think that politicians do not see these issues as seriously as the public does. For one, most have bodyguards, police escorts and security round-the-clock. I sincerely hope that your plan is successful, and once the electorate decides to give your government another term in office, I shall continue to read about your progress from afar, waiting on the day when it feels safe to return to the land of my birth. I am sorry to feel I have to use my skills to another country’s gain, but I feel that the present situation has not left me with any choice but to do so. I ask myself everyday, ‘can it get any worse?’ Unfortunately, it does.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Dr Peter Phillips
Minister of National Security & Justice
2 Oxford Road
Kingston 5
Dear Minister Phillips,
Although the perfect opportunity presented itself while you were in the company of _________ during the 5th Test match against India at Sabina Park, I was hesitant about bringing up the following points with you. This reluctance was not out of any uncertainty as to your reaction, but rather because I am not sure that politics would have got your undivided attention at such an intriguing stage of the test match. Now I hope to have your full attention as I share my opinions with you, as a young educated professional Jamaican.
I love my country. That is without doubt, however, in 1997 I made the conscious decision to migrate from Jamaica to Grenada. The reasons were two-fold. I wanted to experience a different tourism environment in the form of a small resort hotel as opposed to the Pegasus where I worked for 8 years. As a single woman, I did not feel comfortable moving to any of Jamaica’s resort areas. The second reason was because of the economic, and by extension, the crime situation, which I did not envision improving to any acceptable state in the near future. Sadly, my vision was correct, and on each subsequent short trip back home, I get more and more disheartened.
Earlier this year I read the plan you outlined for dealing with the unbearable crime situation in Jamaica, and thought it was a very detailed attempt at bringing the situation under control. I however noted that some of the main points were to increase equipment, manpower and technology, along with your aim to have every square inch of Jamaica policed. I imagine in the short term, this is what might be needed, however, permit me to suggest that for long-term sustenance of a crime free state, the economic and social issues have to be examined and then their root causes addressed.
One of the things that raised my stress level prior to migrating, was the lawlessness portrayed by drivers, as well as the traffic congestion. This seemingly minor irritant changed my state of mind. On relocating to Grenada, where traffic is almost non-existent and drivers are more polite, I managed to maintain a calm spirit. What I am illustrating here is that one’s surroundings which have to be faced daily, can have a marked impact on one’s state of mind. I cannot imagine what it must be like living in a one-room zinc house with a family of more than 2 persons. But many of my countrymen have no choice, for various reasons. I cannot imagine the state of mind of someone living in this situation. In fact, I would suggest that they are not living at all, but merely existing.
After the 100 Lane/Park Lane massacre, I read where one resident called for the government to bulldoze all the shacks in the area and build proper houses for them. She suggested that this would enable them to live more peacefully. To me, this may make sense. If the government were to be really bold and address the inner city areas, with social programmes to get lives back to being worth something, I believe it would make a dramatic impact on the crime levels in Jamaica.
One of the aims of your plan, and I have also heard the Police Commissioner mention it, is to stem the drug trade. I think this is definitely one of the keys to lowering the crime rate, however, has the government given a lot of attention to collaborating with their counterparts in the demand generating countries of North America and Europe? Dealers sell drugs because there is a demand for it, and although I do not have any figures to support this, I would not imagine that Jamaicans could afford to purchase all of the illegal drugs that pass through Jamaica. We know the island is being used as a trans-shipment point and the addition of boats to the Coast Guard is a step in the right direction.
The recent spate of police killings is a cause for concern. The last three (up to the date of writing) occurred while I was again in Jamaica, having returned from a few peaceful weeks in the Eastern Caribbean where as a single woman, I went about my business without any fear. The one which occurred on Olivier Road was the most frightening. I could have been traveling behind the marked police car. Needless to say I would have been scared out of my pants, as I am every time I go out at night in Jamaica. I cannot come to terms with this, and so in the meantime, while the government tries to sort out these and other problems, I stay very far from Jamaica, and try and spend a maximum of two weeks when I return for a visit.
I am suggesting that your government channels money into re-building the social fabric, including the family units in Jamaica. Young children must see hope. Other issues such as family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and work ethic have to be addressed through education, not just for school age children but for adults who did not have the benefit of a proper education. I feel that the crime rate in Grenada is low because there is still a very strong sense of community. We have lost that in Jamaica and need to somehow regain it. Then if your government creates more jobs, people who earn a salary must be able to live above the poverty line. I am not familiar with economics at all, but I often wonder if we can reduce or restrict imports and encourage more local production with better incentives, in an attempt to reduce the cost of living.
My parents are not getting younger, and I would have liked to be still living there to be with them, but under the present circumstances, I will not. I sometimes think that politicians do not see these issues as seriously as the public does. For one, most have bodyguards, police escorts and security round-the-clock. I sincerely hope that your plan is successful, and once the electorate decides to give your government another term in office, I shall continue to read about your progress from afar, waiting on the day when it feels safe to return to the land of my birth. I am sorry to feel I have to use my skills to another country’s gain, but I feel that the present situation has not left me with any choice but to do so. I ask myself everyday, ‘can it get any worse?’ Unfortunately, it does.
Yours sincerely,
