Our safe country
If you think statistics lie then I am convinced that some polls create lies. There is a country with a population of about 2,700,000 where 1670 people were murdered in 2005. In this same country well over 1500 persons were listed as missing in 2005 and many others violently injured with many coming close to death's door. In this country a pollster has returned results suggesting that most residents feel safe. 83% of Jamaicans to be exact feel safe reports a Jamaica Gleaner headline of March 15, 2006. It is either that the persons questioned just did not understand what feeling safe meant or I don't understand.
The first thing about the headline is that it says most Jamaicans feel safe. This might be seen as misleading as when you read the article you recognize that it actually says most Jamaicans feel safe in their community. The second thing is that this number drops by roughly 20% to only 66%, feeling safe, when they have had to leave their communities to run errands, go to work or go shopping. I might feel save running errands but do I feel safe going to work. Do I answer yes if I feel safe doing one activity or all three? It would be interesting if there was a question like do you feel safe to go anywhere in Jamaica.
The profile of a safe Jamaica is most interesting and lets you wonder.
The rich and those who can, live behind gated communities with high walls, security guards, motion sensors, close circuit televisions and every security trapping available. In the communities where advanced security systems are not affordable there is the use of more basic implements like tree trunks, old cars, pipes and drums to block the roads and pathways as soon as sun the goes down. Old pots and pans are often placed over the door jams as tripping devices that when triggered cause loud noises when they come in contact the terrazzo tiles or red-polished concrete floor below.
To enter many ‘yards’ you feel like a fish in an alligator invested river. This is as at many homes you are greeted by a number of mongrel or pure breed four-footed mammals baring their sharp teeth, dripping with slimy juices, eyes glaring at you while they busy yapping at your heels. The sound of anything like a gunshot has residents most times running for cover under beds if not underground.
The individual houses are another story, multiple grills, in some cases, inside and outside, at every window, door and vent. Double locks and dead bolts are standard accessories with fancy locks of every sort in place. I have even heard stories of the roof of buildings being grilled. There are those that even lock their bedroom doors and this not in order to keep young children out.
This is the same country where buses owned by the Jamaica Urban Transportation Company (JUTC) are afraid to journey through some communities in the day much less at night. The JUTC has all but given up those routes. It should be noted that even Red Stripe complained that their local sales and hence profits where down in 2005 as bars closed earlier. This was the direct result of their sober beer-consuming clients doing the sensible thing and retiring to bed early.
Those that drive cars have steering locks in place, wheel locks, alarms of every sort, kill switches and many now have vehicle-tracking devices installed. If you walk too close to some vehicles you are likely to hear an annoying beeping noise or a voice saying you are too close to this vehicle.
Women and men close their windows tightly at stoplights, avoid picking up strangers, day or night and feel uneasy even stopping to help a motorist seemingly stranded on the roadside. If a motorist is involved in an accident, depending on the locale he decides whether he stops or runs, not to the nearest police station but to a police station outside that division for fear of being mobbed. This is country where a policeman is beaten and eventually dies because he goes to a station to ask for a glass of water and as a story puts in they thought he was burglar.
Most churches, offices, and other workplaces areas are grilled to the hilt with some even employing swipe cards, finger recognition, and access codes with turnstiles to control access to their buildings. Many companies even find it necessary to transport their workers back and from certain secure points.
VMBS Boys and Girls championship is only a four-day event but if the newspaper reports are true the organizers will be spending close to J$2.5 millions on security. That is a staggering $434 per minute over the period on security.
Well I guess after all those measures are in place and necessary precautions taken one must feel relatively safe in and outside one’s community or anywhere. At least we don’t have suicide bombers. It pays to be positive and pretend but be careful, as there is no point being ridiculous.
Then again, it is just a feeling not the reality.
Related
Tighter Security
Most Jamaicans feel safe
Report Missing Persons Early
The first thing about the headline is that it says most Jamaicans feel safe. This might be seen as misleading as when you read the article you recognize that it actually says most Jamaicans feel safe in their community. The second thing is that this number drops by roughly 20% to only 66%, feeling safe, when they have had to leave their communities to run errands, go to work or go shopping. I might feel save running errands but do I feel safe going to work. Do I answer yes if I feel safe doing one activity or all three? It would be interesting if there was a question like do you feel safe to go anywhere in Jamaica.
The profile of a safe Jamaica is most interesting and lets you wonder.
The rich and those who can, live behind gated communities with high walls, security guards, motion sensors, close circuit televisions and every security trapping available. In the communities where advanced security systems are not affordable there is the use of more basic implements like tree trunks, old cars, pipes and drums to block the roads and pathways as soon as sun the goes down. Old pots and pans are often placed over the door jams as tripping devices that when triggered cause loud noises when they come in contact the terrazzo tiles or red-polished concrete floor below.
To enter many ‘yards’ you feel like a fish in an alligator invested river. This is as at many homes you are greeted by a number of mongrel or pure breed four-footed mammals baring their sharp teeth, dripping with slimy juices, eyes glaring at you while they busy yapping at your heels. The sound of anything like a gunshot has residents most times running for cover under beds if not underground.
The individual houses are another story, multiple grills, in some cases, inside and outside, at every window, door and vent. Double locks and dead bolts are standard accessories with fancy locks of every sort in place. I have even heard stories of the roof of buildings being grilled. There are those that even lock their bedroom doors and this not in order to keep young children out.
This is the same country where buses owned by the Jamaica Urban Transportation Company (JUTC) are afraid to journey through some communities in the day much less at night. The JUTC has all but given up those routes. It should be noted that even Red Stripe complained that their local sales and hence profits where down in 2005 as bars closed earlier. This was the direct result of their sober beer-consuming clients doing the sensible thing and retiring to bed early.
Those that drive cars have steering locks in place, wheel locks, alarms of every sort, kill switches and many now have vehicle-tracking devices installed. If you walk too close to some vehicles you are likely to hear an annoying beeping noise or a voice saying you are too close to this vehicle.
Women and men close their windows tightly at stoplights, avoid picking up strangers, day or night and feel uneasy even stopping to help a motorist seemingly stranded on the roadside. If a motorist is involved in an accident, depending on the locale he decides whether he stops or runs, not to the nearest police station but to a police station outside that division for fear of being mobbed. This is country where a policeman is beaten and eventually dies because he goes to a station to ask for a glass of water and as a story puts in they thought he was burglar.
Most churches, offices, and other workplaces areas are grilled to the hilt with some even employing swipe cards, finger recognition, and access codes with turnstiles to control access to their buildings. Many companies even find it necessary to transport their workers back and from certain secure points.
VMBS Boys and Girls championship is only a four-day event but if the newspaper reports are true the organizers will be spending close to J$2.5 millions on security. That is a staggering $434 per minute over the period on security.
Well I guess after all those measures are in place and necessary precautions taken one must feel relatively safe in and outside one’s community or anywhere. At least we don’t have suicide bombers. It pays to be positive and pretend but be careful, as there is no point being ridiculous.
Then again, it is just a feeling not the reality.
Related
Tighter Security
Most Jamaicans feel safe
Report Missing Persons Early
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