Whatever happened to divine intervention, Bunting?
IT seems that the Minister of National Security Peter Bunting is having a nightmarish time in his current portfolio. The minister attacked the current parliamentary Opposition, in particular its spokesperson on national security, after questions were raised regarding the increase in the murder rate.
What is the history? In recent times, Jamaica has had a high propensity towards the mauling and extermination of its own citizens because of criminality — a horrible history! In 2009, under the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Jamaica experienced a record of nearly 1,700 murders committed, it was over 20 murders more than the previous record in 2005 under the then minister, Dr Peter Phillips. This trend continued until after the security forces operation in West Kingston, in particular Tivoli Gardens. The state of emergency realised successes for the police and security forces tackling organised crime against the State. The momentum from that month of May 2010 resulted in many more months of decline in murders. This decline continued until the end of the JLP’s Administration after it was defeated in 2011. However, unfortunately, the state of emergency was only one month and in only one area. When the then prime minister, Bruce Golding, wanted to continue this state of emergency, the then parliamentary Opposition — members of the People’s National Party (PNP) — backed out. The result: only Tivoli was handled. Nothing happened in Spanish Town, Majesty Gardens, Payne Lands, Arnette Gardens, May Pen, Rockfort, Wareika Hills, Lauriston, Seaview, Riverton, and other known hot spots in the island. It was a missed opportunity!
Back then, Bunting claimed that it was because of Dudus and Tivoli that crime was so high. Fast-forward a few years, what is the history? Again a horrible one.
Early 2014, Minister Bunting, during a presentation, broke down and declared his desire for “divine intervention”. Some criticised him. I was sympathetic. I believe it is important for God to intervene in our daily lives, and for people to turn their lives over to him and live by his principles. I believe if that is done, there will be less crime and violence and more love in the society.
However, maybe Bunting did not pray hard enough, or maybe he did not fast. Maybe he is experiencing what the 400 false prophets experienced when confronted by Elijah — a God who is silent. Bunting must be concerned. At least in the biblical story — found in 1 Kings — Elijah’s God intervened! The result, then, was positive impact. However, the result of Bunting’s request for divine intervention: a 22 per cent increase in crime.
Bunting likened the JLP leadership to John Crows trying to utilise the increase in murders (47 per cent in Bunting’s parish of Manchester) to score cheap political points. Listening to him talking to a group of Comrades, he claimed the JLP members were cowards and waited until he was off the island to criticise him. What a sorry state of affairs that the minister makes a distinction between criticism of his performance whether he is on the island or not. Is Bunting overwhelmed or struggling; poor fellow!
In the Bible, it is written: “I am he who searches hearts and minds and will repay each of you according to your deeds”. It is also written, “God is not man that he be mocked, for whatever man sows, so shall he reap.”
No Minister of National Security, including Bunting, will be able to reduce murders to under 500 or where the JLP left it in 1989 without significant economic growth. An underperforming economy or one in decline — one acknowledges the recent minimal growth — will only result in more pressure on its citizens, in particular, the very economically depressed to think of all sorts of means to make money or to survive. Unfortunately, in some instances, people turn to criminality, via gangs, scamming, and many other things.
Therefore, people should really stop demanding solutions to our crime problem, simply because a careful study of history will reveal that the major increases in our murder rate since 1989 can be linked to our economic decline, particularly in terms of the number of Jamaicans in the workforce who are unengaged. The closing down of so many factories has resulted in much fewer Jamaicans in the active workforce since 1989 — note I am dealing with raw numbers and not rate of employment or unemployment.
When one requests divine intervention, the first thing one needs to be is humble. Maybe, the minister, before criticising the JLP for being alarmed about the increase in the murder rate, should take a peek at Matthew 5. There he will find, in the first few verses, the famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’, where Jesus outlined the Beatitudes. The very first one was: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This refers to those who humble themselves to the extent that they realise they need God’s help and are simply unable to do anything successfully without him. One would expect the minister to be more humble since he may have been a victim of crime himself since becoming the person with responsibility for the security portfolio. Maybe it is time for the minister to think clearly about divine intervention before displaying the level of arrogance that was shown at that PNP meeting. There is a 22 per cent increase in murders, that is no joke Minister!
Last year’s 14 per cent reduction you claimed to be linked to better policing, so what of this year’s 22 per cent year-to-date increase?
I often try to encourage people, so I will end with food for thought. The following is an excerpt from an article by Bunting from April 2010 in another newspaper: “We are increasingly aware that Jamaicans of all walks of life are frightened, worried and anxious. Crippling levels of fear, trepidation, insecurity and worry have compounded the erosion of the quality of life experienced by the people of Jamaica, given the last two and a half years of this government’s economic policy. Halfway through its term, the Government has had enough time to proffer a national security policy, regulate the administrative issues in the ministry, its agencies and affiliates, raise the morale of the security forces, and offer the people of Jamaica some semblance of order. Jamaica demands no less.”
Fast-forward to the present, maybe he needs the Opposition to call for divine intervention too, after all, it is written in the Bible: “Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am in the midst.” Don’t forget divine intervention, Minister Bunting; judging by the result so far, someone needs to cry for divine intervention with you, maybe then we will have positive impact, instead of what we have had so far.
damionheslop@yahoo.com