Positive “C’s”, Negative C’s
I’ve decided that the issue indicated in my lead caption deserves some repetition. If even in my own style and manner hereunder.
Since the Legal Affairs Ministry formally and publicly “launched” its “Support for the Criminal Justice System” – highlighting some reforms intended to, ultimately, reduce our prison population significantly, issues of overcrowding in our inadequate jails and sentencing for marijuana possession have attracted lots of passing commentary.
That burgeoning awareness is laudable. Especially because citizens, though feeling vulnerable, insecure and scared at this time, could still find time to contemplate the laws extant upon which magistrates sentence offenders; convictions; penalties and all the consequences. This is to be welcomed. That is why I’ll now provide some additional context and other related considerations, besides prison overcrowding and marijuana.
, petty, lost but “guilty”
In terms of context, here we are in early December 2020 as Christmas, COVID or no COVID, is ushering in commercial robustness, real or imagined needs of the needy and a real increase in the crimes of robbery-under-arms, home invasions, fraud, wounding with intent, domestic assaults and yes, murder.
The adult population, myself included, must be excused for anticipating surges in crime at this time. So within such an unfortunate context can we entertain non-custodial (no jail- time) sentences for any criminal offence? Yes we should! Why?
Because we have amongst us thousands of under-25 youth without fathers in place, without family structures, without values of the past. For me, Frankly Speaking, living on the poverty line in the forties-to-sixties, did not ever beckon criminal deviant behaviours. My grandmother and Roman Catholic Primary School ingrained honesty and other moralistic virtues which meant poverty and need were no excuse(s) for crime.
Not so now. Lack of role-models, television, viral platforms, suspect leadership all “inspire” the young to break laws commit misdemeanours. Past top leadership of our very police force set poor examples. Even right now investigations into allegations of theft in the Force’s Finance Department won’t motivate young weak-willed traffic constables from their Christmas shakedowns.
Petty crimes, including those by first timers found guilty, must attract alternative sentencing and penalties. For to place these lost youths amongst the more hardened career bandits in jail is to produce more unwanted practitioners. That’s why the Ministry of Legal Affairs is aggressively addressing varied procedures. (Of course I know – as many of you too realise – that home, school and religion are much artificial these days; youths are easily distracted, lost.)
The Attorney-General has announced his immediate intention to (1) address the emergence of more trained qualified prosecutors; (2) those to become adept at overseeing plea bargaining, restorative justice where victim and perpetrator compromise – arbitrated by legal guidance (3) expedition of Preliminary Inquiries; (4) probation or parole during reasonable time served. (5) community service sentencing and a whole slew of alternatives to jail for the young, petty, non-violent offenders.
It’s natural to be impatient with, scared of today’s dot.com youth. But consider the simple fact: they alone did not make themselves bad. Or criminal. Adults and circumstances ‘helped.” The youth must be saved. From themselves and from us.
*****
The two sides to Christmas
Okay friends I won’t repeat this year that “Christmas is a wonderful welcome lie.” I won’t! All I’ll advise is that if Christians did not initially come upon this Festival of Birth, they would have invented it.
Nowhere in their Holy Bible is it encouraged to celebrate the Baby Jesus’ birth! But Christmas is the second most important Christian observance now. Its paganistic and heathen origins notwithstanding, its joyfulness inspires hope and some happiness even as the world is torn apart by conflicts, wars, natural disasters and disease.
Some societies actually need some form of “Christmas” to let off periodic steam and to stay sane.
In Guyana it permeates all groups, other faiths and the poorest members. I recall Forbes Burnham once attempted to “de-emphasise” Christmas in favour of Mashramani. National outrage attended. The Kabaka backed down. I’m no longer a big fan. But I suspect Christmas is here to stay.
******
All the season’s “C’s”
Let’s be light-hearted, though with a little serious intent.
Do you realise how important the alphabet letters “C” is at this time? Both Positive and Negative? “C” is for Christ, Christmas, case, co-operation, cheer, city, conservation and compassion.
But as a pandemic rages and it is easy to predict that Georgetown, Guyana will be distinctly much more disorderly this December than in times past, you see great numbers of vendors denying you the sidewalk – and greater traffic woes.
Hence the season’s negative “C’s” : confusion, congestion, chaos, con(manship), crooked commercialism and yes, Corona and COVID-19. Have a safe and social-distancing Christian 2020.
********
Consider carefully…….
* 1) Thanks for your recognition and response, Mr Hilbert Foster of the Berbice Cricket Board. As I asked again: What about the Boards or Associations for cricket in Essequibo, West Dem, East Coast Dem, East Bank Dem, Linden, even North-West??
* 2) I suspect that the Sporting Minister of Culture Hon. Ramson, will unleash a Cultural Policy and Programme some day. Since I followed up Dr Cambridge’s lament and appeal, no response.
3) I have a few wagers out. Will I win? I bet some friends that the new Director of Energy and the EPA Director; the new Director of Culture, of Sport, of Youth; and the new Police Commissioner will all be competent appropriately-qualified Afro-Guyanese! Who’s willing to bet me?
‘Til next week!
