Gunshots, Fireworks & House Arrest
It’s 2:30 am in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, there is a peaceful silence with the occasional squeals of puppies or chirping of the cricket. Only the Music pulsating in the distance, from maybe a street dance “pan di corner” or passing vehicles, shatters this silence, and if I strain my ears I can hear the waves crashing on the shore a few feet below.
It’s a stark contrast from the hustle and flow that characterizes Kingston. I needed an escape this weekend, from the gun shots, violent scenes and environment, the sad tales of loved ones lost, bright futures snuffed out ,’those who have to escape from their homes because of fear for their lives, just like World War II Vietnam, US-Iraq invasion. It sounds way off but it’s happening right here in Jamaica.
I have stopped watching or reading the news as the headlines now read “Country under siege”, “Food and Economic crisis” “Gay-free Cabinet” “Student kills student” “Baptist Minister shot on his verandah” and the most ironic- “Undertakers ‘sick’ of burying the dead.” Scandals and crises are the order of the day. It only leaves me with me a gaping hole in my heart and a sense of frustration saying what can I do?
“Or what next is going to happen?”
Seven hundred souls lost and June has just started. I can’t help but hope that it doesn’t affect me, a family member or a friend. As cold, callous and unfeeling as it sounds, this is the reality. On Tuesday the sound of what persons thought was a barrage of gunfire led many under their beds, hoping that no stray bullet would find its way in their homes, only to discover that the “gunshots” they heard were actually fireworks. Now this may conjure laughter in some circles, but it’s so sad that, based on all that has been happening, our first instincts signal danger instead of revelry.
On Wednesday , after heading home from Downtown, my friend called me and said that seven people were shot in Allman Town ,moments after we passed. Then, after Bible Study I was confronted with Hope Road cordoned off with yellow tape because a man was shot at the traffic light “drive by style”and then there was the panic and traffic to get home. I was so scared, angry and frustrated. What has happened to our country? I have subjected myself to being under voluntary house arrest, but is it practical to live this way? Innocent persons being terrorized by a few men and women? My friend said that they should be gathered together and bombed, but will that change anything?
What can we do? Is there no solution? The Government and the Police seem as hopeless and clueless in effecting the appropriate controls to stem the spate of crime and violence. Changing the Minister of Security or effecting another expensive crime plan are just drops in the bucket. Jamaican citizens do not trust the police and the attempts by the good service men are extinguished by the corrupt elements that pervade the force. People are so frustrated with the police and criminals that they are taking justice in their own hands -killing cow thieves; shredding that alleged thief to bits in Manchester because they were tired of people stealing from them the livelihood that they worked tirelessly to eek out under these harsh economic conditions. And what of our justice system; The old machine that grinds slowly, making persons (whether innocent or guilty) wallow in inhuman conditions until there case is called up in the distant future when evidence has disappeared (including witnesses), trials are adjourned or cases dropped? What about justice and rehabilitation?
Our only recourse is a revival in the minds and hearts of Jamaicans where we can truly enjoy the good times; continue to set and break 100m records and do well in Spelling Bees, give birth to great musicians and academics and where God is placed first.
So as I try to sleep with the sound of my thoughts breaking the silence from time to time, I make a silent prayer for the nation, to heal our bleeding hearts and for God to inspire and transform our leaders and our people.
Reddit
June 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am
hey patrice, good article… i remember that tuesday night…we were having cell meeting and the collective instinct was to pray about those ‘gunshots’…if we werent all together I am sure some of us wud have crept under beds as well…
geez, uptown got a likkle taste of what it is to live in a gun riddled community - the fear is sooooo crippling and traumatizing…. & some ppl live in this fear week by week
June 7th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Well what can I say? I’m very pleased with the content- just the realness and clarity of how u expressed this issue. You couldn’t have chosen a more relevant topic right now in Jamaica. I can’t think of anywhere in Jamaica right now that is untouched. I work in Ocho Rios and I shouldn’t be saying this on the net where all the tourist can read it :-), but the place just get hot from wha day yah. Almost everyday is a robbery and you know robberies in Jamaica must be armed and arms in Jamaica must be used and so the fear now is not just the lost of property but the lost of lives. Everyday.
This issue requires so much, may God help us.
June 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Excellent Patrice. Ah tell you, the night i read this first, i was like yeah, cant wait to put this up. Now its finally here, and i know that people must be inspired, challenged, stirred, and awakened by this. Thanks for contributing.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Hi Patrice. I hear your concern. Even in my home country Trinidad, I have seen a blaring lawlessness. I actually came to the point where I’m like no more, what is happening. Something has to happen now. Father God have mercy on us. So I will join with you in prayer Patrice for our societies are crying out for a Saviour. Thank God He is here.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I feel your pain. I too wonder what should be done, what must be done. At times I wonder should I pray anymore, I mean we are coming down to closing the curtains of this life, and it was said before that there will be wars and rumours of wars. and with 700 ppl dying already I guess we can call this a war. I dunno, i mean this whole crime thing is so disheartening, why can’t ppl just stop.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:23 am
wow trust me this article was ‘reality in Ja since Jan2k8′- call it a slap in the face or what?!?…brilliant..I can definitely relate Patrice- well thought out and well executed I could feel the passion share the tears, the hurt, the anger, the confusion, the prayers for a better nation…Jus watching the new everyday I am certain no less than 5 persons get killed per day- either by reckless speeding, drive by shootings, shoot outs, by gunmen, lawmen, careless guardians leaving children unattended..and the list continues. I remember a friend of mine usually saying how hope pastures/mona dangerous and I would be like…where you live so…afta is not tivoli/waterhouse/rema or wherever else known for violent flare-ups only to look at more recent times- i get called now when im out after 9pm oh gunshots were heard or hope rd block off or call me b4 u reach here…etc etc…now i can truly understand what frenz from inner cities used to say o i caan go home tonight…curfew….it reali is serious and we cant all hide as before..crime & violence is jus seepin into everything everywhere….u dont know who’s next…let’s keep praying, trust God and keep pushing the message of Christ- with so many people dying let us at least have some peace that they died in Christ—> remember Ryan Mark’s “Cry”…I’m sure when he first sang it in Jan @ Jai’s album launch no one was thinking that things would escalate this much or see the full relevance of the lyrics…but it wel serious now..beyond serious…
June 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
What if the people pray? A question asked by my fav. group Casting Crowns - but what happens when you pray and it gets worst or when you desire to pray and the words thoughts are just so abstract. Yes, I know the Holy Spirit gives utterance… now more than ever, we must populate the area with the word… what about those whose hearts are constantly broken and they have shut it…kinda like love don’t live here anymore…articles evoked many questions…..
June 15th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
This is such a heavy issue right now. Patrice, you are not alone.I remember just a few wkz ago, for three nites str8, watching the news was so disheartening. From the pastor bn shot, to those 2 sisterz, men getting chopped up, man stealing animals, desecrating themselves with the animalz and so much more….this is alot. One night before I had an exam I wz listening to the news and it just broke my heart to the point where I felt I couldnt even feel, almost numb. We must remember thoug that indeed our prayers are being heard andGod will never forsake the righteous no matter how much we may think that He is not here. We must also remember that “perilous times” must come to pass before God;s glory is revealed. A friend of mine shared something very revealing to me a few weekz ago while we were in church. This particular scripture is from the book of Revelations and we know how important that book is. I had read it before but a long time ago when I never would have thought I would live to see this: it’s Revelations chapter 6 and it speaks about basically everything that is to come and that has come upon us; economic crisis, spilling of blood, natural disasters etc. After reading it, I was like wow this is it… In the face of all that is happening let us however “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”