The "stand" against crime

It was heartening to read in today's Observer of businessmen who not only refuse to give in to the demands of extortionists, but also help other businessmen who have received letters demanding "protection money" or "donations to community activities" and have the balls to follow through by reporting it to the police and testifying . One hopes that Mr. Heffes' story will encourage other businesses to take a real stand against extortion. I wonder how long it'll take the government and opposition to pass legislation prescribing stiffer penalties for extortionists.

My mood was quickly darkened, however, at the bullshit emanating from the mouth of Sameer Younis, who stated that while he was against extortion, he would never encourage others not to pay because of the risk of them being killed. What...the....fuck?!?! This is exactly the attitude which allows the extortionists to thrive.

While we're at it Mr. Younis, perhaps we shouldn't encourage people to report police corruption, since they might be killed. Or to report drug trafficking. Or any other crime which may result in bodily harm coming to the person making the report. Let's all just do what is best for our "own conscience and safety" regardless of whether or not it's supporting illegal activites.


Only slightly better was the the bullshit from Bev Lopez. Mrs. Lopez's statements at a recent press conference seem to imply that she is the one who isn't living in the "real world". In the "real world", people unfortunately do get killed for standing up to criminals, no matter how good the police force is. While I agree with her view that the state has failed to protect the citizenry effectively, Mrs. Lopez must realize that no police force in the world can "ensure that there will be no repercussions" from the reporting of extortion. Extortion cannot be prosecuted without a specific report from the person being extorted. The charging of someone with extorting a specific business gives the criminals all the information they need to carry out a reprisal, if they so desire. Witholding cooperation in this matter from the police only serves to make the criminals bolder and the police weaker. So for all the rheotric, the stance of the PSOJ on extortion has come down to simply encouraging persons not to pay, rather than encouraging them to report it.

So, Mrs. Lopez, when businesses refuse to pay and an owner/staff member is attacked or killed, what then? There will be no police report on attempted extortion which could have been used to identify suspects. I suppose there'll be another outcry about the impotence of the police force.

On a lighter note, it seems as if the West Indies will finally win a test match! After sitting through many, many agonizing defeats, perhaps there's a glimmer of hope. Let's hope that it's the beginning of a reversal of fortune.