It is high time that Jamaicans begin to debate fully the dark period in our island's history that has contributed to the current dilemma concerning the extradition of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. Wealthy intellectuals, safely ensconced within their uptown mansions, cry out for his extradition arguing that the act would be a sign of order being returned to society. This line of reasoning is spurious.

Without too much of a history lesson, let us remember that, while Jamaica was thankfully not one of those unlucky nations where the cold war became a hot one, the island was heavily contested between 'pro-US: and pro non-aligned Soviet' ideologies. Looking back through the lens of history, we can see that both sides had their respective warts. The geo-political rivalry of the US and the Soviet Union raised the stakes infinitely in our island's burgeoning political process.

Jamaica's inner-city communities became battlefronts in the fight over whether the nation would be democratic or 'democratic socialist'. The few accommodations afforded inner-city residents were granted by politicians once they were satisfied the community had sufficiently put itself on the line to ensure their electoral seat remained safe, or another was captured from the rival party.

BATTLEFIELD

Coke grew up in a Tivoli Gardens that for the past three decades had been a low-intensity Cold War battlefield. When his alleged crimes were committed, they would have occured in a climate where garnering influence for politicians by any means necessary was the order of the day.

But as a nation we have moved on, or we should be moving on. The Cold War is over and the stakes are no longer what they were. Tivoli Gardens is now a stable, self-sufficient community, in large part due to the unique way in which its own garrison order evolved. Violence, while continually rising, has largely abandoned its political bent. Tackling non-partisan crime is Jamaica's final frontier and this is a Herculean task that cannot be made without partnering with community leaders willing to walk the straight line.

Extraditing Christopher Coke would be negating the strides Tivoli has made and the example he has set in recent years. Contrary to the views of uptown intellectuals this would not help close the wound rent in our society by political violence, but instead would cast salt upon it. That being said, simply denying the request may reignite political rivalry. Thus, a compromise must be reached.

The prime minister must explain the special circumstances concerning Christopher Coke to the United States. Perhaps in a letter to Attorney General Holder or even President Obama the PM may cite Jamaica's exemplary record with collaborating with the United States on criminal matters and in particular the service rendered to the anti-socialist cause by the Jamaica Labour Party and Tivoli Gardens during the Cold War. After citing these facts then in the interests of national healing the PM should respectfully request that Dudus serve a period of time under house arrest here on the island if he is found guilty of a crime.

This must be followed by a joint announcement by both parties that the island is entering a new era, and that the 'politics' card has been used and is no longer eligible as an excuse for committing crime in the international arena. The message must be clear, you will get no quarter on extradition from here on out if you commit a crime overseas, regardless of the reason.

Such a compromise would finally allow the Jamaican political establishment to admit its culpability in inter-garrison violence, show that we are a nation of laws, and send the message to inner-city leaders that the establishment is willing to move forward to a mutually beneficial future, so long as they refrain from promoting criminal enterprise.

I am, etc.,

CHUCK STERN

Cstern@stanford.edu

Stanford

California