In Focus

MOST OF US heard on the news reports on Monday, May 25, the anguished cry of a resident of the Tivoli Gardens community: "All dis fi one man? Dat nuh right!" In the moment, I thought to myself that truer words were never spoken, but on reflection changed my view. This isn't all for one man. This is a battle for Jamaica.

PORTIA SIMPSON Miller likes to speak of the power of community. The power of community can be good or bad, depending on who controls power in the community. Of the 780 communities across the island, a small minority is terrorised by gangs and an even smaller amount is actually controlled by them.

TRUTH IS the first casualty of war. So let's start with some undeniable truths. It is true that some of the most dangerous criminals in Jamaica have been chased out of their enclave in Tivoli Gardens. It is true that gunmen who used to openly and brazenly walk the streets of Tivoli with their big guns can no longer do so today; that criminal 'soldiers' have had to abandon their fortresses.

NThe following is an excerpt from a speech delivered by Joseph M.

It was the garrison paramilitaries, confident in their strength and desperate in their cause, which opened hostilities in the Coke War.

Rudolph Brown/PhotographerPNP leader Portia Simpson Miller, in addressing the May 16 NEC meeting, said the party should look in the mirror.POLITICS OF OUR TIMEAs for those criminal gangs and garrison dons supposedly...

Bruce Golding's address to the nation last Monday was about three things: an apology, the decision to sign the order to proceed with the Coke extradition, and political reform.

The following is an excerpt from a speech delivered at the luncheon of the Insurance Association of Jamaica, Wednesday, May 19, by Joseph M Matalon, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.

It had to come to this. The show of naked criminal power and defiance; the brazen display of territorial control and dominance; the frightening public demonstration of overlordship of the lives of residents; the virtual "I dare you!" message of the criminal underworld.

Yes, there are other things happening in the country.Government and media here have unsheathed their swords again for another battle in a never-ending conflict. As a student of media and communication, I have more than a spectator's interest.

Tyranny, it is said, thrives on the silence of good men. In Jamaica, we have no shortage of good men and women. They fill our churches each Saturday and Sunday, they trumpet from the pulpit, they fill our lodge meetings and some are even to be found in Gordon House with the title 'Honourable'. Why then is there an unholy silence from these quarters on this matter of extradition?