When in Rome message to the Jamaica Observer

The highly anticipated American Gangster episode featuring The Shower Posse was a success by any measure. Producer Curtis Scoon gets a standing ovation for his precise depiction of the Organization and its members as fairly as he could. Mr. Scoon has a way of going deep within some of the heinous criminal environments, opening the doors to give mainstream a peek.

The story of The Shower is really a sad one. You know people are so quick say this and that when this or that doesn’t affect them. It’s my opinion the statements made about the Producers of the show American Gangsters as published in The Jamaica Observer Newspaper “But when its all said and done, the Producers of BET’s American Gangster would be hard put to find more  sensational material for their programme than that provided by Mr. Blake”. Isn’t true.

Okay first off BET’s Producer in this case Curtis Scoon didn’t make this stuff up. For the record Mr. Scoon wasn’t hard put for material for his program. The story would have been the same no matter who told it. The Shower Posse represented The JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) and The Spangles represented the PNP (People National Party). That’s fact. One backed PM Edward Seaga the other backed PM Michael Manley. The two fought for their own parties. Everybody knows that Jamaica has a high Poverty rate. If a man or woman is hungry and he or she has a family to feed they will do things out of character.  When you are in the Drug Business no matter what your intentions are Murder is an Occupational Hazard that comes along with the Business. The Mafia Gangs like the Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, Lucchese, and Colombo families. How many people did they kill and for what? I can assure you it wasn’t over the Democrats nor Republicans Parties.

I read an Article where one guy said that The Shower was the worst he had ever seen, he stated they were worst that the above family of gangsters listed. I beg to differ the above mentioned Mafia Gangs terrorized the U.S. for years. They influenced their State and Local Government, and anything else they wanted to.

The Bottom line is this to the Jamaica Observer to use one person as your showcase topic in order to put other subliminal messages in there that has nothing to do with the other, is poor journalism in my opinion. This is referring to your Headline “Mr. Vivian Blake’s return and the Death Penalty”.  First off, the crimes that Mr. Blake committed were committed on other soil. Mr. Blake was punished by the U.S. Guidelines. The U.S. has their laws Jamaica has their laws. When in Rome you do as the Romans. The Death Penalty although a highly significant issue to deal with in Jamaica and which you should, but in a matter appropriate. To throw a rock by saying what you said in your paper about what happened 30 years ago during the heyday of a group and then hide your hand by saying you didn’t mean another.  Well I’m sure enough is said about that.

I interviewed Mr. Blake it’s obvious that the Jamaica Observer has not. I didn’t get my article from an episode of the BET American Gangster Show. I got my Article directly Mr. Vivian Blake prior the development of the Shower Posse episode.  During that interview Mr. Blake profoundly showed remorse for his actions and the actions of everybody association with the as I refer to as an Occupational Hazards. Mr. Blake regrets that he missed the most important events of his son and young daughter’s life.  

The issue of the treatment of Mr. Blake as being privileged as it seems that he will receive a Hero’s Welcome back in his home Country of Jamaica. The reason Mr. Blake is receiving a welcome home by the mass is because of the love that he has shown his fellow countrymen. A lot of people that go abroad never sent nothing back to Yard, but that’s not the case with Mr. Blake he established businesses in his home Country, putting people to work. Another thing that really altered my perception of Vivian Blake during our interview was when he spoke of the poor. He said “a poor man, woman or child no matter their Party Affiliation burden my heart”, and went on to say that he would help any that needed, if they shared his Political beliefs or not. He also said that he wouldn’t advise anybody (young or old) to go into the drug business although he understands why they would. Mr. Blake said that education is the key. Mr. Blake went on to say that it’s his hope that he can use the mistakes he’s made in the past and the remedies that he is putting in place for his future will be a positive deterrent to others placed in his position. I asked Mr. Blake was it worth is he replied no the loss of family and friends are priceless.