Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2006
Source: Cayman Net News (Cayman Islands)
Copyright: 2006 Cayman Net Ltd
Contact:  http://www.caymannetnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3700
Author: Tyrone Douglas

THE MYTH DRUG DEALERS FACE

Dear Sir:

History dictates that most people who engage in any  type of drug 
dealing or drug use are usually people who  barely managed to 
graduate from high school and are  attracted because of the potential 
to earn large sums  of easy money in a short period of time.

However, the false perception that most drug dealers  fail to 
comprehend is that the most powerful and  dangerous drug dealers 
ended up on the news in many  countryies running for or losing their 
lives because of  unseen dangers encountered, as documented with 
Pablo Escobar etc.

If you speak to someone who decides to be really honest  with you, 
they will tell you before that before they  became involved in any 
type of drug activity, they were  not even aware of the type of 
transactions going on  around them until it was too late for them to 
disassociate themselves from the persons they are  involved with.

The primary reason one hears this comment is because  most people 
involved in distributing and using drugs  are targeted by well 
organized gangs because of the  status. For example, teens in their 
early 20s are  usually taught to be partying and having a good time, 
hence they are least expected to be involved with such  activities.

On the other hand, accountants, attorneys, bankers,  custom officers, 
police officers, police officers,  pastors, pilots and politicians 
are also least expected  to be involved with such activities, 
especially if they  keep a low profile and are perceived to be of 
good  character.

The interesting part of these professions that attract  gangs to 
target key persons and have them included in  their gang, is to 
expand their operations simply  because of the use of acquiring such 
power, authority,  financial and legal expertise or most of all that 
is least expected, respected religious leaders.

As the gang activity continues to grow in schools  undetected, we the 
public assume that it has no real  means of expanding beyond the 
school grounds and  growing into well established organized criminal networks.

Well, according to an article published in the local  press a few 
months ago, one of Cayman's most powerful  drug dealers from George 
Town was sentenced in Mexico  for drug trafficking. If one wishes to 
research beyond  that, another major drug dealer from West Bay and a 
former RCIP Officer was sentenced in federal prison  with Manuel 
Noriega a few years ago for drug  trafficking and the list goes on.

What most people who fail to properly educate  themselves do not 
comprehend is that, there is no  option for a career or pension plan 
and that this type  of life style is short-lived.

Therefore, as parents, we must stand up and fight  against all 
criminal networks that target our families  for financial gain and 
take away the future from the  indigenous people of these Islands.

Caymanians need to stand up and fight, employed or  unemployed, don't 
ask your political representative if  they can create deterrents, 
tell them that they must,  and if they choose not to, then we the 
people have the  right and the power to call an electoral recall 
any  time we wish.

Remember that we the people have the power to vote in  or remove any 
political representative at the general  public's request.

A very concerned Caymanian who is fed up with the level  of 
suppression and oppression constantly expressed by  the power-hungry 
investors, accountants, attorneys,  bankers, custom officers, police 
officers, police  officers, pastors, pilots and politicians who 
continue  to show no regard for the dignity of the people of  these Islands.

Tyrone Douglas
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