Catalyst for Change

As the globalisation becomes an entrenched dimension of the new world order we continue to witness the growing economic gap. In most countries organised crime is flourishing and as borders have fallen and the world’s balance of power shifts, transnational organised crime continues to gain new ground. In this article F.A. Forbes, Commissioner of Police, Jamaica examines international and national factors contributing to the increase of domestic violence in Jamaica.

As the distribution of wealth changes due to the proliferation of the drug trade and other illegal enterprises, societies are experiencing critical changes in their social order. Nationals who are deported from developed countries by the thousands annually are returning to the Caribbean, often with no job skills other than those connected with illegal acts. The net result is increases in crime and or increases in the fear of crime.

With the rapid changes being experienced in our police constituencies, if we are not careful we can easily overlook issues, which on the surface seem unimportant. Even as values and attitudes deteriorate, self-respect and respect for others seem to be losing their traditional meaning.

No wonder, then, that domestic violence has been on the increase, resulting in 702 domestic motivated murders in Jamaica over the years 1997, 1998 and 1999. In fact, since the beginning of this year we have experienced 173 domestic-related murders representing 34% of all murders committed in the country to day.

Spousal abuse within the region seems to be extremely significant. We should remember that it is not "gender blind." Although domestic violence is usually associated with sexual and physical violence there is a significant, often overlooked area of emotional or psychological violence, which I suspect is very high in our region.

We should not forget [that] children suffer irreparable psychological damage caused from early abuse, either directly or indirectly by those charged with their protection and upbringing. Statistics have hsown that many of these children grow up to become abusers therby initiating a vicious and potentially deadly cycle.

There is now serious concern that more and more females are bieng murdered arising out of domestic disputes worldwide.

Let us try to break the vicious cycle of spousal abuse within the Region. Let us end the trauma being experienced by exploited and abused children. Let us be more than partners in a multi-agency approach. let us be the catalyst in the process of change.