I have always said that this country lacks strong leadership and unfortunately it seems that I have always been right. What is happening in Gravel Heights in St Catherine is just further proof.

Can someone please explain to me and the residents of Gravel Heights. How a gang can force people to move out of their community, and the state's response is to send the police in to help them move? What is the JCF now, national movers? The JCF: To protect and to Move.

Appropriate response

I would have thought that a more appropriate response would be to send in the Mobile Reserves and a battalion from the Jamaica Defence Force to flush out and exterminate the vermin that have these people seeking alternative living accommodations, as opposed to figuring out what to cook for Christmas dinner in two weeks. (I am told that now is the time to buy the ham and other meat so that they can be properly seasoned for the holiday feast.)

And even if the residents of Gravel Heights weren't thinking about Christmas, given the hard times that are upon us, isn't it more than a bit of an injustice that some gang of 'cruffs' that have nothing to offer to society can - without fear of repercussion - order people out of their homes?

But in reality, what else can the residents do but move, because look at how the police have responded.

Man, sometimes I wish I was in charge. You see because I don't have qualms about being unpopular I would bring the full might of the state down on whichever gang made those demands of the people. I would make it so they would never utter any such statement ever again. They would regret the day the words 'gang' and 'criminal' came into existence.

Extreme prejudice

By the way, what exactly are the authorities waiting for? Why haven't they already gone in with great numbers to eliminate, with extreme prejudice, the threat being posed to the law-abiding residents of Gravel Heights?

It was not that long ago that Prime Minister Bruce Golding told a gathering at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) annual conference that he is through trying to appeal to criminals because they are 'hard of hearing'. So why haven't we heard anything from Jamaica House on the matter? It's not like it's one or two persons being affected here, it's at least 200, especially when you consider that somebody is going to have to put up, and put up with, these people who are being dislocated.

It was only this week that Minister of National Security Colonel Trevor MacMillan, during an address to the nation, outlined plans to tackle the criminal element. And while dealing with the Gravel Heights situation may not have been on the immediate agenda, it is a situation that calls for immediate and decisive action.

Brazen behaviour from gangs

We have to send the message to the criminal element that the winds of change are blowing. No longer will we tolerate this brazen behaviour from gangs who want to dictate to us that we should pay extortion fees; that we should look the other way, and pack up and leave our homes just because they say so.

And look, if the police are going to be sent in, send them in to do what they have been trained to do - eliminate the criminal threat. The last thing we want to do is add to their already difficult jobs. If the authorities want to stand by and only help the people of Gravel Heights to move, the telephone directory is filled with companies that offer those services.

'Why haven't they already gone in with great numbers to eliminate,with extreme prejudice, the threat being posed to the law-abiding residents of Gravel Heights?'