Last week, courtesy of RJR Group, the chief of defence staff, Major General Stewart Saunders, made his first major policy statement since being sworn to office on October 26, 2009. At this media discussion, which resembles the pioneering Gleaner Editors' Forum, Saunders made some important analyses and clear recommendations.

Our head of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) forthrightly dismissed the idea of a joint JDF and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) based on different training, purpose and operation of both institutions. But more important, he candidly admitted that the JCF was unable to police certain areas and therefore, the JDF, with the requisite legislative powers for a specified period, was willing and able to police these areas. This is the best news for quite a long time about slaying the monster of murder.

In that clear statement, he at once displayed to Jamaica what the problem is and what the solution could be. It is obvious that there are hard-nosed criminals, well-equipped, well-funded and well-trained, who are ruthless and fearless and a different type of strategy apart from community policing is needed. These leaders of criminal networks hold communities hostage. They murder people, they rape girls, they use boys and engage in gun smuggling and sales. There is need for a SWAT team that will police these areas. There is a place for the use of force.

American-German theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) argued that violence was not intrinsically immoral but depended on the situation and the social consequences and if it improves the welfare of society. He allowed for the use of violence in certain situations. However, even if you do not agree with that argument, we should recognise that there is a place for the use of force in the response to the violence of persons who are vicious and violent. Force is just and legitimate and therefore, Moses killing the Egyptian was not frowned upon by God (Hebrews 11:23-29). Therefore, Saunders is on holy ground to want to take on those who are holding the communities hostage.

Not good enough

However, surprisingly, the prime minister in his address to the 66th annual conference of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) did not address this Saunders recommendation. He is ignoring pragmatic suggestions from an operations marshal. It reminds me of his confession that he did not meet regularly with the former commissioner of police. This is not good enough, Mr Prime Minister. The PNP had a national executive council meeting and not a supporting word for the Saunders suggestion. Could the silence from the JLP and PNP be due to the fact that this recommendation would affect their garrison communities?

But then civil society has not supported this Saunders suggestion either. In a similar way, Derrick Smith, former minister of national security, had said it will take 10 years to get on top of this crime problem and there was silence. Do Jamaicans realise that if Mr Smith is correct then the number of murders could be 2,700 by 2018?

Jamaica is in a state of denial about the crime crisis. Some Jamaicans seem to believe that if we deny its seriousness, it is not happening. While others seem to believe that if we only say that crime and violence must come down, then it will come down although from the late 1960s until this decade, the murder rate has climbed dramatically. It is also believed that prayer without works will halt the murder rate.

The best option is supporting Stewart Saunders and his suggestion that the JDF be given powers to police these besieged communities where criminality thrives openly.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building'. Feedback maybe sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.