Jamaica (catch all)

[AdamG]

Interesting commentary about the group-think of the local citizenry.

One of the dimensions of garrison life that intrigues me is garrison spirituality. It seems many people who live in garrisons like West Kingston, and especially Tivoli Gardens, embrace a conflation of Christianity and its Christology or messiah theology and their understanding of the strongman or don who is seen as a local messiah. It is obvious that the perception held of their leader by many residents of garrisons is built on their understanding of Jesus' life and mission. They embrace Jesus' role in delivering humanity from spiritual bankruptcy, but they move beyond that to fill a perceived void in the non-spiritual world for a socio-political messiah to deliver them from socio-political bondage. What bothers me is that their messiah theology is articulated in the reverse. It is reversed garrison Christology in that rather than the garrison "messiah" dying for his people, they are willing and ready to die for him.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...omenon_7644210

[AdamG]

(Reuters) - At least 73 people died this week as Jamaican security forces stormed a Kingston slum and battled armed supporters of an alleged drug lord wanted for extradition to the United States, police said on Thursday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64Q6BP20100527

It's getting complicated and fraught with coincidences.

BUSINESSMAN Keith Clarke was yesterday shot dead as members of the security forces stormed his Kirkland Heights, Red Hills, community in Upper St Andrew in search of alleged drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. Clarke, 63, is the brother of former People's National Party Government minister Claude Clarke.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-death_7655366

and
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...ead/lead1.html

Some Trench Town residents have insisted that there were more women and children killed in the military assault on Tivoli Gardens than the authorities are letting on.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/glean...ead/lead6.html

[davidbfpo]

A well written first article:http://www.foreignpolicy.com/article...llion?page=0,1 and a general article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...oby-traps.html

The later I noted refers to the sought drug lord's father:

Coke's father Lloyd, the previous 'don' of Tivoli, was killed in a mysterious fire while awaiting extradition to the US in a Jamaican prison in 1991.

What I am puzzled by and in principle critical of the USA seeking the extradition of such a "drug lord". Not that this has not happened before in this hemisphere. Why cannot the USA, presumably with the DEA as the 'lead' agency, present its evidence to a Jamaican court and try hard to secure a conviction? Note, Jamaica does have jury trials and the court could sit beyond Jamaica (akin to the Lockerbie trial in a Scottish court in Holland). Even with the "drug lord" tried in his absence, but not a defence lawyer.

Leaving aside the current human cost, did the USA consider what would be the impact on Jamaica, a less-developed country with a few problems? Just a few thoughts on how Jamaica could be "messed up" further:

1) Threats to the tourist areas @ Montego Bay and Ochos Rios, including cruise liners and consequent economic impact

2) A response by the "drug lords" to change their political allegiances from the traditional parties to a new party

3) An info war campaign by the sought "drug lord" to undermine the credibility of the state, along the lines of 'Catch me if you can".

A third background article:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...udus-Coke.html