By Gareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer—-

Port Antonio, Portland:—

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Throyville Haughton is arguably the most popular police officer in Portland, especially since the music video for his song, Proud Informer, went viral on social media recently.

The song, which implores citizens to essentially become informers to help stem the burgeoning crime, was a personal initiative by the cop, who noted that the decision to do a song is strictly on the basis that music is actually a message which seeks to captivate an audience, create lifestyle changes, educate, and to influence.

“I am hoping that my message in song will create a difference in this society. For far too long, we have allowed a negative culture to influence our way of life. I am urging all Jamaicans to be a ‘proud informer’ so as to save lives, prevent crime, and create a positive influence.

“I thought about this long and hard before writing this song. The crime situation is so bad; it even frightens the young at heart. Being an informer or an informant is not a bad thing, as in other countries, it is widely accepted as a basis of exposing wrongdoing and in solving various crimes, including corruption. This is the kind of change that I want to take place in Jamaica, where we accept what is right and do away with the wrong.”

Last year, the Bank of Jamaica employed a similar approach to relay to doubtful Jamaicans the Government’s message that the country was experiencing an economic turnaround. In the bank’s video, reggae artiste Tarrus Riley sings, “Gimme little one drop, let the bass-line roll and kotch, reggae music run the country,” to praise low, stable and predictable inflation as being what the bassline is to reggae music.

GREAT STRATEGY

Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah, director of the Institute of Caribbean Studies at The University of the West Indies, in commenting on the strategy, said music is a natural way to reach Jamaicans.

“It’s a no-brainer, using culture to educate and simultaneously entertain – or ‘edutain’. In this case, we are talking about a context in which music is wired in the people’s DNA,” Dr Niaah said at the time.

Haughton’s message clearly speaks about the need for Jamaicans to condemn and reject the traditional culture of ‘informer fi dead’ that has allowed the escalation of crime and violence now plaguing the society.

According to Haughton, who joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 2002, he is leading by example with this initiative. The DSP also stated that he is now a self-appointed informer. The DSP argued that the deafening silence on the part of those who may have either witnessed a crime, know about imminent criminal activity, or are aware of the whereabouts of criminals, is a recipe for disaster.

In Proud Informer, Haughton outlines how easy it is to share information with the police:

“Wi have a number fi sarge and the inspector,

me very proud informer,

and if mi caan get di supe mi call commissioner.

Mi a informer because mi naah support the crime,

if u do the crime, do the time, pay the fine,

crime is mashing up this country and wi acting like wi blind.

Wi shoulda put a stop to dis ting long time.”

Haughton said that since the release of the video on social media, he has been getting overwhelming support from the diaspora who, he says, have encouraged him to continue on his drive to get well-thinking and law-abiding Jamaicans to share information with the police.

“Don’t wait until the crime reaches your door, before you share what you know with the police or someone you can trust. Criminals and murderers have no respect for persons, culture, religious belief, political affiliation, and/or sexual orientation. The truth be told, the majority of Jamaicans are decent law-abiding people. It is only a handful or a minority that is creating mayhem and anarchy in the society. Do not allow them to disrupt the peace and create fear. Crime does not discriminate,” Haughton warned.