During the past few weeks, we have heard and seen despairing images of  the tragic situation that is occurring in Jamaica. For many Americans, the civil unrest that is reported has been an eye opener as well as a shocker.  Jamaica has long been viewed as a popular vacation spot for many.  Which brings the question of why, this has occurred.

Politicians have wrecked this country from the 1960’s and continue to present day. In the 1970’s politicians imported guns and ammunitions for certain communities. I do not know the full motive but that initiative could not have had any good benefit. The gangs were used to implement this initiative were also used to intimidate the electorate to vote for a particular political party, to control communities, and were awarded government contracts.

This was the genesis of the Jamaican crime problem. Fast forward to 2009 with nearly 1700 Jamaicans killed by the gun with 2010 experiencing high death toll numbers. It is reported that 500 people were killed in Jamaica since the start of 2010.

Jamaica’s relationship with the US government had always been good until the last year. The Obama administration made a request to extradite Christopher "Dudas" Coke who is wanted by the US government for drug trafficking charges. You can imagine the dilemma the Prime Minister finds himself in. The US government wants the man that placed him in power. Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke is the community leader of Tivoli Gardens -the same garrison community Bruce Golding represents. What did the Prime Minister do? He did many things.

He delivered speeches to the Jamaican people giving the impression that the extradition was a human rights issue, saying that the US government is not following certain guidelines stated in a treaty that both nations signed. The fact remained that Jamaican cops intercepted Coke’s calls and received evidence which was then turned over to the US authorities. On the other hand while Golding stated, it was a human rights issue behind closed doors. With the help of a law firm (Manatt, Phelps and Phillips) the country of Jamaica lobbied the US government to cancel/stop/delay this extradition.

The Prime Minister found himself in deeper waters because he needed to decide who would assist with backing this case; the government (using taxpayers monies) or his political party (Jamaica Labor Party). He used the latter. This extradition issue is a legal one and no political party should be involved-the courts should have decided.

Jamaican residents lashed at the Prime Minister in his Coke affair and called for his resignation. Jamaica is an interesting society because there has been no outcry against crime and violence when compared to the unified voices calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation. In a speech delivered in prime time, he apologized and announced that he had signed the initial papers to start the process. All hell has broken loose since then.

Days ago members of Coke’s community all dressed in white (thousands) marched in Kingston pledging their support for Coke and expressed the willingness to die for him.  Jamaican police men and women have the reputation of extra judicial killing. They don’t process wanted men through the courts; most are shot and killed. Many residents who love this area leader are worried that police will kill him. To prove their loyalty they have barricaded the entire community. Imagine locking off New York City.

The residents have blocked the communities with debris and is staging the community,  I hear better than any Hollywood war set. They are using sand bags, barbed wires, which are attached to the electricity poles.   This has prompted the embassies locally to inform travelers from their countries to stay away from Kingston, Jamaica. It is only a matter of time when they will advise their citizens to stay away from Jamaica completely.

I would like to end by saying: I love this island and in fact it has become my second home. The island is indescribable when it comes to its beauty.  The people are the most God fearing and loving that I have ever met. I hope and send a prayer to all the victims and to the people in Jamaica that truly do try to make a difference. To know Jamaica is to love Jamaica.