Dear Editor,
I am not outraged by Les Green's criticism of the Jamaican police force. What I am outraged about is that his criticism obscures the reality of the situation in Jamaica. Firstly, his characterisation obscures reality through the racialisation of the police system and his failure to recognise the regional elements of crime and violence within the island.
Green racialises the police force because he suggests, incorrectly of course, that the local mistrust of police has something to do with the colour of one's skin. The problem with his characterisation is in part a result of his ignorance of the social and cultural history of the island and its people's mistrust of the policing institutions.
Jamaicans do not simply mistrust the police because they are black, but because of the poor institutional structure of the justice system typically viewed by locals as corrupt. He also fails to point to the fact that Jamaica's crime problem is largely confined to particular sections of the Corporate Area, and violence does not pervade the entire city. I am by no means suggesting that crime exists only in one area, but the magnitude of crime described is characteristic of certain areas of Jamaica, particularly sections of Kingston and Montego Bay.
The real problem, as I understand it, is that we give too much credence to Les Green's criticism when the people of Jamaica have in fact been very vocal about the flaws of the justice and the policing system. Secondarily, what Green didn't say is probably more important than what he did say. After all, he was not sent to the island to be a passive, objective observer. No, his purpose of visiting the island was, in part, to improve the well documented institutional flaws of the policing system.
What we as a community need to do is be critical of Les Green the man himself. In his eight years on the island, how did he attempt to improve the situation or lobby to have the situation improved? Or did he, like the Jamaican police, sit passively and collect a pay cheque?
Denieca Daniels
deniecaalexia@gmail.com
Green's criticism obscures the reality
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I am not outraged by Les Green's criticism of the Jamaican police force. What I am outraged about is that his criticism obscures the reality of the situation in Jamaica. Firstly, his characterisation obscures reality through the racialisation of the police system and his failure to recognise the regional elements of crime and violence within the island.
Green racialises the police force because he suggests, incorrectly of course, that the local mistrust of police has something to do with the colour of one's skin. The problem with his characterisation is in part a result of his ignorance of the social and cultural history of the island and its people's mistrust of the policing institutions.
Jamaicans do not simply mistrust the police because they are black, but because of the poor institutional structure of the justice system typically viewed by locals as corrupt. He also fails to point to the fact that Jamaica's crime problem is largely confined to particular sections of the Corporate Area, and violence does not pervade the entire city. I am by no means suggesting that crime exists only in one area, but the magnitude of crime described is characteristic of certain areas of Jamaica, particularly sections of Kingston and Montego Bay.
The real problem, as I understand it, is that we give too much credence to Les Green's criticism when the people of Jamaica have in fact been very vocal about the flaws of the justice and the policing system. Secondarily, what Green didn't say is probably more important than what he did say. After all, he was not sent to the island to be a passive, objective observer. No, his purpose of visiting the island was, in part, to improve the well documented institutional flaws of the policing system.
What we as a community need to do is be critical of Les Green the man himself. In his eight years on the island, how did he attempt to improve the situation or lobby to have the situation improved? Or did he, like the Jamaican police, sit passively and collect a pay cheque?
Denieca Daniels
deniecaalexia@gmail.com
Green's criticism obscures the reality
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