One of the most lucrative criminal practices in Jamaica and the greatest disincentive to commerce is the extortion racket. Yet for some strange reason neither the police nor the powers that be have exerted much energy to bring it under control. In fact, it has now become so pervasive that not only is it the norm in business districts in Kingston but it has spread like wildfire to May Pen, Mandeville and the northcosast.
The reason for its success is the overwhelming presence of corrupt police, for anyone operating in these business districts will tell you of regularly seeing thugs beating vendors , conductors and taximen into submission while the police turn their heads away or simply walk by. Why?
Because these corrupt police are on the payroll of the extortionists.
While there has been much exuberance expressed over the so-called success of the recent crime initiatives, I have remained very sceptical because of level of corruption in the police force.
I was therefore pleasantly surprised to see the story in the Star of Monday 28th June "Accused extortionists arrested". According to the report, two men were seen on Princess Street extorting money from vendors....." While this would have been a normal exercise in law abiding countries with a reasonably clean police force, such action is such an exception here that it was given page 3 treatment in the Star!
So does this mean that there is now going to be a new thrust by the police to deal with extortion? Will those gangster cops who are in league with extortionists be removed from the force? Will the police be sending undercover cops into commercial areas to observe the behaviour of the uniformed ones who are supposed to be patrolling these areas?
I am nor holding my breath but holding on to a little hope that maybe, just maybe, we are seeing the dawn of a new day.
The reason for its success is the overwhelming presence of corrupt police, for anyone operating in these business districts will tell you of regularly seeing thugs beating vendors , conductors and taximen into submission while the police turn their heads away or simply walk by. Why?
Because these corrupt police are on the payroll of the extortionists.
While there has been much exuberance expressed over the so-called success of the recent crime initiatives, I have remained very sceptical because of level of corruption in the police force.
I was therefore pleasantly surprised to see the story in the Star of Monday 28th June "Accused extortionists arrested". According to the report, two men were seen on Princess Street extorting money from vendors....." While this would have been a normal exercise in law abiding countries with a reasonably clean police force, such action is such an exception here that it was given page 3 treatment in the Star!
So does this mean that there is now going to be a new thrust by the police to deal with extortion? Will those gangster cops who are in league with extortionists be removed from the force? Will the police be sending undercover cops into commercial areas to observe the behaviour of the uniformed ones who are supposed to be patrolling these areas?
I am nor holding my breath but holding on to a little hope that maybe, just maybe, we are seeing the dawn of a new day.
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