Garrison Constituencies and Economics Performances: The Jamaican Experience

1. Garrison Constituencies and Economics Performances: The Jamaican Experience Presenters: Kirkland Anderson John McAllister Jonas Semugeshi

2. CONTENT • INTRODUCTION • METHODOLOGY • RESULTS AND FINDINGS • CONCLUSION &RECOMMENDATION

3. INTRODUCTION Serious and violent crimes include: • Murder • Rape • Robbery • Shootings • Breakings • Larceny • Knife related incidences • Carnal Abuse Source: Department of Statistics, Jamaica Constable Force

4. INTRODUCTION Garrison in Jamaica are poor inner-city communities controlled by either of Jamaica’s two main political parties. They are characterized by homogeneous and in some cases over voting patterns for one of the islands two political parties {Wikipedia, 2010}.

5. JAMAICA’S GARRISON CONSTITUENCIES 1. West Kingston 7. Kingston Central 2. South West St Andrew 8. South St Andrew 3. St. Andrew Central 9. Clarendon Central 4. St. Andrew Western 5. St. Catherine Central 6. East Kingston and Port Royal St. Catherine South {includes Central Village) Source: The Politics of the Garrison in Jamaica: Electoral Manipulation Through Patronage and Violence Kevin O'Brien Chang, (January 27, 2008)

6. HOW ARE GARRISON CONSTITUENCIES CREATED? Garrison constituencies are created by: • the development of large scale housing schemes by the state and the location of the houses therein to supporters of the party in power; • homogenisation by the dominant party activist pushing out the minority from within and guarding against invasion from outsiders • the expected setting up of squatter community • The hard core garrison communities exhibit an element of autonomy, in that they are states within a state. The Jamaican State has no authority or power except in as far as its forces are able to invade in the form of police and military raids (Kerr, 1997 July).

7. IMPACT OF SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIMES The World Bank in a recent report says crime in the Caribbean and it's mostly referring to Jamaica - is "undermining growth, threatening human welfare, and impeding social development"(Biswas, 2007, May 16). Serious and violent crimes are costly. They impose: • concrete economic costs on the victims who survive as well as the families of those who lose their lives. • large costs on communities. • significant costs on taxpayers(Shapiro, 2010).

8. METHODOLOGY This research focuses on the level of serious and violent crimes committed in Jamaica, in particular nine constituencies and one inner city community {Central Village, St. Catherine South}, all of which demonstrate garrison characteristics since 2007.

9. A quantitative approach has been adopted utilizing secondary data such as: • level of serious and violent crimes in the garrison constituencies. • cost per inmate {Spanish Town Correctional Centre}. • cost to the health system {Spanish Town Hospital} for treating serious and violent crimes such as stabbing, gun-shot wound, rape and carnal abuse.

10. The data utilized were published by the following well established entities: • Statistical Institute of Jamaica • International Monetary Funds (IMF) • Economic Watch • Criminal Investigative Agency (CIA) Fact Book • Jamaica Constabulary Force {JCF} Statistical Department etc.

11. LIMITATION • Unavailability of important data Total leakages from the Jamaican Economy are limited to: • cost incurred by the penal system • loss in GDP due to incarceration of individuals

12. RESULTS AND FINDINGS Serious and violent crimes committed in the garrison constituencies

13. % of serious and violent crimes committed in the garrison constituencies of Jamaica in 2002

14. % of serious and violent crimes committed in the garrison constituencies of Jamaica in 2011, 2012 & 2013

15. % of serious and violent crimes committed in the garrison constituencies of Jamaica between 2011 & 2013

16. AVERAGE ANNUAL COST TO THE PENAL SYSTEM PER INMATE

17. 2013 $845,000.00 2012 $787,592.00 ( 845,000) 1 + 0.07289 2011 $732,473.00 (787,592) 1 + 0.07525

18. TOTAL ANNUAL COST TO THE JAMAICAN ECONOMY DUE TO COST INCURRED BY THE PENAL SYSTEM

19. TOTAL ANNUAL COST TO THE JAMAICA ECONOMY DUE TO LOSS IN GDP

20. TOTAL ANNUAL COST TO THE JAMAICA ECONOMY AS A % OF GDP

21. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION CONCLUSION This research is by no means suggesting that serious and violent crimes will be reduced by an average of fifty five per cent with the removal of the garrison constituencies. However, there is no doubt that its removal will:

22. lower significantly the monster of serious and violent crimes • increase budgetary savings • result in additional revenues • result in increased real estate values in the areas. • Increase investments

23. RECOMMENDATION The ultimate goal emanating from the removal of garrison constituencies should be the reduction of poverty, an increase in skills levels so that people have an opportunity to earn a liveable wage. This can be achieved with the implementation of the Partnership Upliftment Program for Inner City Young Men {expansion on the CSJP Program}

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