Crime and violence: it dominates the news almost daily.
The immediate response of the state has been to increase paramilitary policing operations in the hopes of suppressing crime and violence. It works for a few weeks and months, and then, crime spikes once again.
The authorities say that this is the usual ebb and flow, the action and reaction between law enforcement and lawlessness.
But how can such violence be accepted as normal?
Jamaican violence anthropologist, Dr. Herbert Gayle says that in the 2 decades of his study on this topic in Belize, Trinidad and Jamaica, he has come to the considered opinion that suppression is not the answer to curb violence and crime.
He's in town for a public lecture on the subject and this evening, he called a short press briefing to promote the event, and preview what he'll be talking about:
Dr. Herbert Gayle - Violence Anthropologist
"We're trying to grapple with the preoccupation with suppression for most Caribbean States, and how we can reshape the discussion and the discourse, and help people to understand how better to do things within the region, so that we can actually move forward. I'm certain everybody in the region enjoys suppression to some extent because it provides us with immediate results. The problem that we're facing is that after you have a dip in the murders from suppression, you have a swing back within a very short time, usually within 24 months."
"In some cases, you need suppression. We have a word for it that could help everybody understand. We call it "morphinization". If you have an illness, and you need a surgery, and you're in a lot of pain, you get morphine. But, if you keep getting the morphine, you get addicted. You become a junkie, rather than solving the problem. And I'm convinced that we're becoming junkies, because when you speak to people, they, 'We want the murder stopped now.' But, they're not concerned about tomorrow and the following day. And part of what we're trying to say to people is that we have to get out of this morphine idea, because ask anyone who's had surgery and morphine. You laugh for a while, but it must end because reality sets back in. So, I want - tomorrow is a space we're creating for us to look at when the morphine burns, what do we do?"
Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"So, let's say for example, if you, with your years of experience and research on this topic, were able to influence policy makers of any nation, what sort of recommendations would you be making, if you are prepared to go that far?"
Dr. Herbert Gayle
"Tomorrow (laughs). That's a good one, though."
So, as you heard, Dr. Gayle is hoping that the general public will show up tomorrow at the Bliss Center at 6:00 to hear his liecture. He says the has a few recommendations on how to better manage violence in Belize. He says that the public discussion is free, and everyone is invited.
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