Last week's Sunday Gleaner carried several articles on the 'informer-fi-dead' culture. They elucidated that deep-rooted philosophy and how it has been used to keep (our) law and order out of certain communities. They highlighted the significant role of police corruption in the fear of reporting crimes. There was an undertone of criticism for those who refused to come forward with information on crimes and murders.

However, many Jamaicans hold dual internal citizenship. They live under two distinct governances. When someone turns his/her back on the 'ghetto laws' and gives information to the people adhering to the laws of the land, they are seen as traitors and treated as such.

I vividly recall a true story from one of my senior police friends. He visited the (fresh) scene of a murder. The father of the deceased was still standing near to where he and his son were standing when his son was gunned down in front of him and several other witnesses in broad daylight. The body of his son, blood and his bicycle were still there when my cop friend arrived and asked the father, "Dads, who kill yuh son?" The grieving father only replied, "Him done dead already."

Resignation

That terse statement said everything. It meant that nothing he could do would bring back his son; that 'he' is already dead while 'I' am still alive; that speaking now would only cost me and the rest of my family our lives; that you (the police) cannot protect us; that this crime thing is bigger than all of us; that there are 'laws' at work here that you will never fully understand and that we had to relinquish our human rights in order to survive.

In my naivété I had hoped that the foreign cops would foster trust and glean enough valuable infor-mation to break the back of the criminal monster. I was wrong, because I didn't realise just how well entrenched the 'ghetto laws' are and how widespread corruption is in Jamaica. Even people reporting deafening sound systems and breaches involving noisy, disruptive, businesses set up in fully residential areas are endangered. They are sometimes betrayed by corrupt government officials sworn to uphold the law and protect the rights of decent citizens to peace and quiet.

Clandestine systems of reporting crimes are useful but the fear of being found out in our tainted society is very real. I know of witnesses who are intimidated by their assailants (while sitting in the docks) in court. They use glowering stares and hand signals to indicate that they will be wiped out. I know of rape victims who are told to come in (unprotected and unescorted) to view an ID parade while the cronies of the accused rapist wait nearby to ID the 'informer'.

Perpetuating criminality

In these modern times, Jamaica had to have a witness-protection programme. However, in our tiny country with crippling financial constraints, it is far from efficient and, therefore, not encouraging or very effective.

The inability of people to inform on wrongdoers perpetuates criminality. The criminal elements in society continue to impose their own 'laws' and, in response, the police sometimes resort to the criminal act of extrajudicial executions using 'intelligence' (secret information gathered from people within relevant communities) to rid society of those fingered.

Until Jamaica finds the political will to enforce universal governance (and, therefore, one set of laws), we can't expect individuals to forfeit their lives for the sake of our very imperfect society and flawed systems of security and justice.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.