Garth Rattray
EXTORTION IS a big business. It probably exists in most commercial districts. We have known for years that it is established in downtown Kingston, Spanish Town, May Pen, Red Hills Road and many other similar enclaves.
Other areas are rife with extortionists and, unknown to many, some hitherto 'safe' areas have also been targeted. Uptown businesses are not immune to the extortionist's sting. I'm also told that some large and well-known manufacturing companies circumvent paying straight-forward extortion by contracting local dons/area leaders to provide specific services.
I once heard that a downtown businessman tested the 'system' by sending a portion of his usual payment along with an excuse of poor income. It is said that his money was returned with a note stating that the money that he submitted could only serve to buy enough gasolene to torch his store. I could go on and on with anecdotes emanating from Liguanea and other locales.
Businesspeople are understandably afraid to report the extortionists because, in spite of what the police say, they just don't have the wherewithal to guarantee protection to witnesses and their families.
Budgeting for extortionists
Extortionists rake in the loot and trickle some of it down to the lower eche-lons within their com-munities. This allows the little people to benefit from their nefarious activities. Many people profit from extortion - except for the victims that must budget for regular payments in spite of mounting bills. Additionally, the victim must always remain cognisant of the fact that his or her life hangs by a thread held by the extortionist.
Recently, a young patient began venting spontaneously about her uncle who was slaughtered by extortionists as he stood beside his young son on the street near to his business place. Attempts on the lives of his family members continued after his murder. The horror that the family endured brought back a flood of negative emotions for me. Almost six years ago, a very good friend of mine was murdered as he oversaw the locking up of his business place at Mary Brown's Corner. It rekindled my yen for a solution to this devastating problem.
As I stood listening in silence, I contemplated the underlying 'excuse' for extortions and a possible solution came to mind. Dons/area leaders consistently proclaim that they need funds to see to the welfare of their needy inner-city dependents. In all fairness, we must never forget that dons/area leaders emerged out of the needs of people within poor communities for protection and financial assistance. They filled the vacuum left by politicians that thrived on keeping large sections of our society poor, uneducated and dependent on them for everything.
Distributing to the poor
Perhaps the Government could assist in funding our poor communities by regionalising tax collection and ploughing that revenue into nearby needy communities. Instead of paying our multiplicity of taxes into the consolidated fund; a designated percentage (of those same) taxes could be put into a local community fund (LCF). The LCF would be used to benefit nearby communities by assisting the destitute, providing badly needed basic sanitation and developing their environs. The little man and woman would know that the neighbouring businesses are contributing directly to their welfare and that the Government is seeking ways of alleviating their suffering, misery and helplessness.
If we don't help our people to break free of the culture of the dons/area leaders and gangs, all the talking, preventive detentions, importation of ex-patriot policemen, calls for the resumption of hanging, revamping of the constabulary and ministerial shuffles will all be for nought.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email garthrattray@gmail.com; feedback, columns@gleanerjm.com.
