What do you suggest, Dr Phillips?
Dear Editor,
The zones of special operations (ZOSO) has got to be one of the most hotly debated initiatives of the Government in the fight against crime. There’s hardly a day when there isn’t an article in one or both of the major Jamaican newspapers raising “concerns” and “red flags” about ZOSO.
From the political pundits charged with driving fear into citizens and forecasting its failure — as if that’s any good for anyone — to the ‘well-meaning upstanding humanitarian’ who purports to want to see it succeed, but is “genuinely concerned about human rights abuses”, everyone has something to say.
Between the two, they are both putting on quite a display before ZOSO can claim to be successful neither, however, seems to be able to devise an alternative measure.
I read with interest one publication and I was left bemused — and quite disappointed — that after quite a lengthy column there was nothing the citizens or a listening Government could take away.
Not surprisingly, Opposition Leader Peter Phillips seems not quite able to keep the subject out of his mouth. He claims to be clamouring for dialogue with the Government so that he might provide his own insight. It would be quite a shame if the Government were not to permit such an engagement, but I hasten to add that at the numerous speaking engagements he’s had recently, he could, at any point, put forward his suggestions.
The rhetoric concerning ZOSO is pretty much the same and the papers are inundated with critics parading as enlightened Jamaicans. Regrettably, however, none of these well-written and verbose articles propose a solution. And, that, I have to say, is truly unfortunate.
If we are going to overwhelm the newspapers with articles about ZOSO, how about we make them ones the Government can actually extract ideas from and use?
I personally can’t think of an alternative, and I am not neglecting the reasonable concerns raised, but I urge the bright, bright minds among us, the ones that have all the answers, including Dr Phillips, to give the Government some ideas. I’m certain the Government would welcome it and, as the saying goes, ideas (not opinions) matter.
In the name of democracy and in the name of giving consideration to the views of others, my question to all the critics is simple: What do you suggest?
R Williams