Embrace Alemanni's 'tough love'
Published:Saturday | May 8, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
I wish to commend the citizens of Maverley and EU for agreeing to and embracing a bold step to developing their community. I would further commend the head of the EU delegation for resisting any temptation to show 'soft love' to a community that needs encouragement to be bold in solving its problems.
While I take the point of the Gleaner's editorial of Friday, May 7, that Mr Alemanni should have communicated directly to the Government, I think the editorial writer is underestimating the target and medium of his message.
Regarding the sending of the message to the 'big men', the culture on the ground suggests that a message from a white foreigner gets a very high level of consideration among the 'big men' than if it were from our own. This might be due to credibility problems that we have created, as well as the superstar perception from television, or even the effect of slavery.
It should be also worth noting that many of the children in these communities belong to or are related to the 'big men', who also have a high level of respect for them and their safety. Further, if this message goes to them via the mother of the children, history has shown that their efforts and intentions are significantly altered (recall a similar incident of the construction of a basic school by Jamaica Social Investment Fund, where the babymothers thwarted the efforts of extortionists)!
More development funds
Jamaica should use more of this kind of bargaining approach to develop communities and to solve crime. If a community decreases the crime levels they could, for example, get more development funds for infrastructure and job creation opportunities. The same should apply for keeping the community clean and organised. In order for this to work, the governance structure in these communities would need to be established and accepted by all (but that is for another letter).
The 'tough love' by Mr Alemmani of the EU is not a new approach to effecting change in these communities. It is the language that they speak and respect. I do hope that this is an approach that our local leaders (at all levels) will consider and embrace.
I am, etc.,
HERMON EDMONSON
Old Harbour, St Catherine