Page 107 - Social Norms Survey

COMMENTS ON OTHER PRO-VIOLENT SOCIAL NORMS

The proclamations that the issue of crime is “someone else’s problem” and that “the

government” alone should fix it. Communities do not feel that the crime that takes place
in their community is someone else’s problem. Its proximity affects them directly. It is very

much their problem, whether it is the gang war that destroys their peace, rapes that drive
fear, or the scamming and its violent offshoots that many fear their teenage sons will be

attracted to. There are those who support the view that it is the government’s responsibility,
as well as those strongly voiced views that it is the responsibility of the community as well.

The former view may be stronger, especially because negative issues like criticisms of
politicians, corruption, even “Chinese takeover,” often get entangled in the discussion.

Strengthening the community to empower itself by strengthening democratic community

governance (e.g. through capacity building) would help communities.

Culture of reprisal. This touches deep and raw emotions. The drive for revenge is very
strong in the Jamaican culture. Love of family, even in a home where there is quarrelling

and cursing, is very deep. Most say they cannot forgive. Some openly say they will go for
the perpetrator’s family even if he is killed by the police. However, others say that if the

justice system and police investigations worked better, there would be far fewer reprisals.
In one of the spaces in Tawes Meadows where a Corner Reasoning was held, two men

said that “revenge/reprisal is a ‘town’ ting dat” (town = Kingston); “Dat outa di limit … St
Catherine man don’t deal wid dat.” Some youth have no heart, they said. This comment is

unusual. If persons were prepared to discuss this in a video for social media circulation, this

83