COMMENTARY: We must support the police

The problems of crime and violence will not go away by themselves. Such issues must be thoroughly addressed and dealt with conclusively in order that the current troubling trends on the island of Dominica are managed.

The uncharacteristic nature of the recent violent crimes and gruesome murders in Dominica should be a call to action. I rise to sound the alarm. Being acutely aware of the backlash that some before me had to endure by doing the same (calling attention to troubling trends of increased criminality and judicial irregularity in Dominica), I brace myself for similar treatment.

I am not deterred, however. This cause is not mine, I do it for tomorrow’s children and I respond to calling which is higher than those who will question my actions and motive for sounding the alarm. I certainly do this without fear, malice and ill-will and with the hope that this message finds a receptive ear…somewhere.

I remember, during Edison James’ tenure as Prime Minister of Dominica, he called for an arms amnesty and he was ridiculed by many, including opposition MPs. Of course that effort failed with only about a couple of guns surrendered.

A few quick years later, Dominica’s Honorable Minister for Security, Mr. Rayburn Blackmore, called for an arms amnesty and this call was ridiculed by opposition forces who reminded the Minister that his then opposition party did not support the James regime’s call for an amnesty.

The lesson here is: fighting crimes is not a party political pursuit. It is, instead, an all out effort tackled from several fronts.

So, we must support the police because it is the sensible thing to do and I call upon the citizenry to heed the call for help from Dominica’s Chief of Police, Mr. Daniel Carbon, even while you lament the lack of forthrightness, in the case of the police.

As stated previously, the policing of society depends on the collaboration of several sectors to ensure its efficiency and the people or ‘community’ element serves as its foundation. This is so because “the people” are best at policing ‘us’ and those whom we set in office as custodians of our safety actually function for and on our behalf – or so they should.

Officers of the law are powerless if the people do not assist in the overall effort and the officers, who are themselves people, must stick to and with the people if their tasks must be performed effectively. When I refer to officers of the law, I am not limiting this to “police officers,” instead; this extends to ‘police,’ the magistracy, the judiciary and the entire Court system which includes government officials (especially the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister), the Clergy, organized social civic organizations and YOU!

The point has been made, but there are certain dynamics at play which must be explored, so bear with me as I try to connect the pieces before I conclude. We need peace in Dominica, but for peace to be realized there must be justice. Peter Tosh says “everyone is crying out for peace, yes none is crying out for justice,” so I stand on the side of justice driven peace because I have confidence that Tosh’s message seems practical.

It has been seen that lawlessness pervades in societies where there is a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and citizens. In failed societies, where there is widespread systematic or institutionalized corruption, and where there is a general disconnect between rich and poor, lawlessness reigns supreme. Now, I am not suggesting that Dominica is a failed state, but there are obvious strong and troubling elements of judicial improprieties on the Dominican landscape which if not addressed as soon as it is possible, may land this blessed nation in social turmoil and on the doorsteps of civic chaos reminiscent of failed states.

When there are inequitable measures of the distribution of justice; and when the systems or institutions of state seemingly favour the perpetrators of white collar crimes and politically influential players; and when the same system severely punishes the ordinary man for petty crimes, clashes are inevitable. When partisan insularity and nepotism are added to the mix, the problem is exacerbated.

The people have been crying out for justice and the several high profile matters which somehow get stuck in the Court system, or dismissed, or end in favor of the high and mighty on matters of “technically,” adds urgency to the cause.

In light of the recent spate of violent crimes on the island of Dominica, which include 13 reported murders from January – July 2017, it is incumbent on all of us to make an effort at confronting the issue. This has gotten to the point where well-intended citizens should stop playing it safe in the name of political expediencies. The stakes are much too high here and now and frankly, it is against my principles to hide beneath the transparent cover of political neutrality, in fear of whom? What?

I remember discussing the horrors of ‘corrupted police systems’ with Ron Burke, a noted and very well accomplished Jamaican Radio/Media Broadcaster who warned that we (Dominicans) should “keep Dominica the way it is/(was);” begging, in his words: “Alex, this place is a paradise when it come to crimes and violence, please, Alex, don’t let this island go down the path of Jamaica with political corruption because that will in turn drive up the crime rates and when that becomes the case, the country spoil…lard gad, Alex.”

At the time, Burke was a regular guest on Diaspora Link, a radio program aired on D.B.S Radio from 1999. Where are we now?

Ron also spoke of ‘Vigilante Justice’ which was prevalent in Jamaica, stating that this was a benchmark of a ‘corrupt police system’ and warned that if this were to reach our Dominican shores, we should begin to panic because things could very quickly go down-hill from there. Where are we now?

Let me say here and now that citizens should never take the law into their own hands because they (that solitary citizen or group of citizens) are not the law. The ‘Law’ is a community effort to protect the people, all of the people, in equal measures. The ‘Law’ protects us against others and ourselves because in our fallible state, humans sometimes deviate from society’s designated path(s) and hence the law is there to keep us in check.

Here is my recommendation: we do not fight crimes; we solve them or proactively try and stop them from occurring. Fight connotes a combative activity which if applied to deviant actions will only result in a bigger or greater fight. I call for more peace officers and less weapons in the land. I call for the establishment of a peace brigade from among disenfranchised factions. The subtle ideological, spiritual, philosophical, cultural and/or political disconnect which currently a plague Dominica needs to be addressed. No one person or group of people can design that fix, but together we may be able come up with a solution.

No longer can citizens stand aside and pretend that we do not have a crime problem because we do! Ours is a nation on the crossroads.

Dominica is shouting for attention, crying tears of blood and we need to stop the haemorrhaging. Let us gather round the table and talk with each other, not at each other. We must support the police, because you are the police. If you won’t support you, how then do you expect someone else to do it?

Let this day mark a new chapter in Dominica. A day when we take up the mantle and deal with issues plaguing our nation’s criminal justice system. Knowing that no one is above the law and that the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, no one is Supreme and as such the long arms of the law should spare no one. Each citizen is intricately bound to the other through our individual rights and collective responsibilities. With rights come responsibilities and it is our right to respect other people’s rights…again I say we must support the police.

Depoliticizing a governing system is impossible because politics is what drives such systems, but moves must be made to manage the levels of corruption which no doubt exist throughout the operation apparatus of the Dominican society – including the police. The longer we hide our heads in the sand is the more the problem will be exposed. Let us not wait until a violent crime comes knocking at our door before we speak. We have no time to lose…now is the time for action.

The next generations of Dominica demand that we take action.

I end with the words of Nelson Mandela: “let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.”

Peace.

 

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26 Comments

  1. July 18, 2017

    *A house divided against itself cannot stand.* (Christ)

    God has delegated to human governments the authority to hand down laws that are in harmony with His laws – the laws of the kingdom of God. He has given us the responsibility to honor and support our government. This includes supporting the police. According to the word of God the police are His ministers
    meaning they are His servants.

    I suggest you read Romans 13:1-7. God requires this of you. By this your nation will stand or fall.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  2. Mr.Prolific
    July 17, 2017

    To a so call concerned citizen! You did not employ the Commissioner, and you are not the one paying his wages, so what has he got to do with you? The first responsibility is to yourself and then others. Get your priorities right.

  3. Mr.Prolific
    July 17, 2017

    When a super human is on the street wearing a uniform, his or her only protection is the Magistrate Court. The police. If he acted according to the law, the matter is taken before the court, if he uses his decresion,his colleagues called him a slacker. magistrate WARNED AND NOT THE POLCE. Prisoner on the run who hide them ,Adam, or Eve. Law breakers comment about the police, law abiding citizens, realised that, the police have a wife and children like any other.

  4. Ras
    July 16, 2017

    Alex, were you on the side of Justice when you made an appeal to the relevant authorities to not prosecute the politically motivated rioters who threatened the lives of policemen and innocent citizens, set fires on the Highway and obstructed the lawful movement of innocent citizens?
    And by the way, it would have been helpful if you had given at least one example of the “obvious strong ..elements of judicial improprieties” that you suggest contributes to the crime situation in Dominica!

    • %
      July 16, 2017

      Are you referring to those innocent people Skerrit accused of trying to overthrow his government with a stalled truck with musical speakers?Well I fully support Alex,and condemn leaders who dictate to those like you to follow me even in the cemetry and call me TRAITOR. I think the police should be supported,but do we call what we have a police force?..It is dictated to by too many politicians and political acolytes.Its more a political force than a police force.

  5. tell me about it
    July 16, 2017

    yeap but in order that the police gets the desired support from the public the police must be consistent in administering their duties. for the most part they appear to be selective and highly driven by outside influences both political and social. The police requires not only to gain the communities support but to ensure they sustain that support through professionalism, fairness and efficient service that in my mind needs to improve. Finally we the people need to embrace law and order as it defines a society – the only reason we have laws as humans is to protect ourselves from ourselves, the only reason we have police is to ensure that laws we enact to protect ourselves from ourselves is in fact enforced hence the need for the police. So if we as a people as a society do not respect ourselves and live as we would like others to live then there will be no justice and or peace only police..

  6. Ny boss
    July 16, 2017

    Am loving this well said these lil boys playing gangstars in our lil DA got to b curbed. The help of the public\Locals will have a great effect on their nonsense the shit that goes on in America on TV has these kids and grown men head mess up only we the people along with the Law get get the place back togher the cops cant do it alone not even here in the USA they can this ******* have to stop
    Look out for some political. Bull soon frm sombody just wait. They gonna say the Government fault Fools

  7. Concern citizen
    July 15, 2017

    I hope the Commissioner of police read this amazing piece

  8. Tjebe fort
    July 15, 2017

    Alex believe me, most of us would support the police if the are convinced of two things. One, there must be no political interference whatsoever. Number two, police must be appointed and promoted on merit only. So you see Alex, the initiative must come from the police themselves. That can not happen overnight because there is so much mistrust and disappointment right now but I’m confident that can be overcome in the long run. The police should be our allies and not our enemies.

  9. Spike
    July 15, 2017

    I agree that every case of government corruption undercuts the rule of law. But you weave in “peace” and “justice” as Los Angeles racists once did, suggesting that obeying the law is not a solution unless it includes a social-worker’s political agenda. In fact, some of your solutions, gun confiscation and “proactively” having government act in the absence of a problem, will further invite disrespect for the police. So will recruiting people for government not because they are competent but because they are agitators (claiming to be “disenfranchised”). Dominica prospers through its British heritage, in which people see the government as a neutral referee. Both major parties seem to view it instead as a gift-giver, differing mostly in who gets the loot. That is the crossroads.

  10. freedom fighter
    July 15, 2017

    Good commentary, Alex. Good community policing is needed like in the past when the police would come into the communities for whatever reason and their guns will not be visible. What are we seeing nowadays? Big M16

  11. Palesa
    July 15, 2017

    Very well done and on point!!!

  12. Roger Burnett
    July 15, 2017

    In our search for solutions:

    The philosopher Erich Fromm claimed that the amount of destructiveness to be found in individuals is proportionate to the amount to which expansiveness of life is curtailed. By this he meant the thwarting of the whole of life, the blockage of spontaneity of the growth and expression of man’s sensuous, emotional and intellectual capacities. Life, he claimed, has an inner dynamism of its own; it tends to grow, to be expressed, to be lived. If this tendency is thwarted, the energy directed towards life undergoes a process of decomposition and changes into energies directed towards destruction. Destructiveness is the outcome of un-lived life.

    This is why creativity is so important and deserving of more attention, both in our schools and in society at large.

  13. Mr.Prolific
    July 14, 2017

    Every COUNTRY HAS a system and if you stay within the system good on you, and if you go out of the system you are in trouble. Law is like a sleeping tiger and only when you break the law the police get involved. Those people who broke the law, has girlfriend, children and relatives, so to combat crime we all have to be policemen. Only brave men and brave women join the police force. Their job entail,To prevent crime,,uphold the law, and bring criminals to justice. If you have a better solution bring it out in the open for all to see. the law HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

  14. Locs Girl
    July 14, 2017

    This mantra is everywhere to support the police. How is that possible if the police cannot be trusted?

    • July 18, 2017

      You live in a democracy

      You have the option of working for a more efficient police force. In fact you have a responsibility to do so.
      Until they improve you owe them your sincere prayers and God requires you to support them in every possible way. Remember their job is not an easy one. We all benefit when they do it well.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.

  15. UDOHREADYET
    July 14, 2017

    I agree with most of what you’re written but i think you’re missing a different dynamic which many countries are facing it is the internet, social media and the negative influences from other countries that make most youth stray into gangs and crime for fast money and notoriety as opposed to the tried and true path of education, self employment, business ownership, athlete, jobseeker, apprentice, inventor and even legal emigration.
    Most of these crimes aren’t based on need they are pure wickedness, recklessness, carelessness because there’s no proper guidance from adults.
    Women who were positive influences are on the street drinking, dating multiple men, men that were fathers, providers are only interested in partying, sleeping with the next available woman… those are the people the youth are surrounded by… their successful role models are drug dealers, so called gang members and vagabonds… all losers in tits not all police, police is the final teacher… it starts with…

  16. Shaka Zulu
    July 14, 2017

    Alex I will say this. When those incharge have eroded the trust of the public in them the only thing that can bring about peace and citizenry helping the police is change in leadership. Carbon and his gang have shown bias, shown his incompetent and will cry up and down diablotiin asking people to help police. The point is people have lost trust and the increase in bold actions of the criminals are a direct result of the leadership in the country. If you commit a crime you serve the time. If you are incompetent at your job you get fired. Period. No one is above the law and our judicial system has failed us. We have tolerated the bad fruits too long so now the seeds have germinated and started spreading and had to control. Dominica needs to realize change starts from the top. I say Carbon needs to be replaced and by a non Dominican commissioner, not because we do not have capable people but because there is too much politics. I say no more.

    • Spike
      July 16, 2017

      This is an interesting concept. Whatever you think of the days when Hong Kong was ruled by the British, one race governing another race, the colonizers did not pick winners and losers. They published rules and compelled their subjects to obey them. I do not believe that Dominicans are inherently corrupt, but Dominicans are inherently allied with some and opposed to others: There are inherent cliques. A non-Dominican police chief would not be bound by them. Perhaps outsource law enforcement entirely? The Dominican political system makes the rules, and neutral outsiders enforce them.

  17. July 14, 2017

    Support the police, a joke that because I man say NO to that

  18. Ibo France
    July 14, 2017

    Thought provoking article. The Police Force is one of the most important institutions in any society. Without it, chaos and anarchy would reign. To be an effective institution, the police should be fair, competent, free from partisan political interference and should have the confidence of the communities. The police should corroborate closely with other law enforcement entities to try to ensure that justice is done in a timely manner. No Police Force can be truly successful without the support from the rest of society as tips and evidence from eyewitnesses help to solve most crimes. Despite the police best efforts, it would take the collective will of everyone to reduce crime to a manageable level.

  19. July 14, 2017

    Well expressed! tell us something we dont know. keeping it real. The train has left the station! action speak louder than words. Robert Peel, must be turning in his Grave. Been there Done that. The approach has to changed, and let it begin with me. the do as i say and not as i do” mentally, will not take us to the next level.

  20. July 14, 2017

    The ancients told us that our prayers should not be long and winding, criminal activities in Dominica is beyond what one would call helping the police, like in most caribbean states, going to the police with information, one might be opening one self to grave injury. The trans-shipment of COCAINE from Dominica to the EUROPEAN UNION, have elevated criminal activity on the island. In the inner circle of the drug trade,shortcomings are not tolerated,and in most cases you pay with your life, we are not discoursing rural mis-understandings or crop theft, Dominica is presently embroiled in the INTERNATIONAL DRUG trade. What Dominica need is intelligence to help the police, and it will not be forthcoming from the established classes on the island that benefits directly from the illegal trade.Presently in the caribbean, the police , some of them tend not to be trusted because of nefarious actions, crime is top down , if you know what i mean.Bob D.

  21. July 14, 2017

    When ever someone reports a crime; this person becomes the first suspect until the police can prove otherwise.The police officers have very corrupted hence the reason why the public cannot trust them.I do not condone crimes but the public should be very careful as far as reporting crimes to the police because if the police are not in their favor they will be accused of crimes that they have never done.Many people all over the world have had this bad experience; so never think that your turn might not come.Nonetheless, the country cannot and should not allow this high increase of crime at this high rate. The choice is left to who ever thinks that it is right to be a snitch because being a snitch can have serious consequences.

    Admin: Crime Stoppers provides a reliable means of reporting crime anonymously

  22. 1979
    July 14, 2017

    Beautiful message Alex… very moving and Inspiring….1000000000000000

    • Emile Dominique
      July 14, 2017

      Alex Bruno, We will not have peace when leaders promote violence with the words ” the police cannot tell us what to do”
      If we want this violence to stop we need to appeal to the media to stop promoting bad behavior with accusations , propaganda, and lies every day, more than once a day. We are becoming a Country of blame and name calling especially by polititions and their fanatic followers on both side of the political devide.
      Then respect for authority especially the police is out the window. So is respect for priest and pastors. Even the Pope , and even God. No human respect at all.
      If someone disagrees with you, you
      We are becoming more and more uncivilized because of our negative. behavior.
      We have to accept that crime is a national problem which affect all. Disagreements result in all kinds of insult towards you and your family even the dead ones .
      I agree with your views on the situation, but I am not hopeful. We seem to be heading for a civil war.

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