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1. The state of emergency was never called to fight crime when announced in May of this year. It was simply needed to take back the country from the insurgents supporting Dudus. Let us not forget who was his biggest supporter.
2. The security forces had initially requested a 90 day SoE. The govt. for reasons some may argue were valid, agreed to only one month.
3. Once the SoE got going, the police realised it was an opportunity to go after gunmen in Tivoli and the wider Jamaica. It’s my opinion, given Golding’s history, that the PM merely went along for the ride. He was being pushed by forces that were calling for his resignation on account of his despicable behaviour over the last few months.
4. There were numerous accounts of abuse by the security forces in that first month of the SoE. Keith Clarke’s brutal murder, an incident some are trying to paint as collateral damage, and something that he himself may have brought up on himself, comes quickly to mind, because this was not supposed to happen to uptown people. The abuses downtown were several times worse.
5. The security forces on July 19, 2010 asked parliament to grant them another 30 days. The govt sought approval from parliament for the 30 days. The PNP requested information on the previous two SoE, the successes, the problems, whatever.
6. Such information was not provided by the govt. One f the reasons given was the request for the 30 day extension was only just made and so there was no time to retrieve the information requested. Perhaps the security forces could have been a bit more responsible and make requests of such national importance much earlier in the future.
7. The PNP had sought such clarifications partly because two of Jamaica’s most prominent human rights activists, Dr. Carolyn Gomes and Yvonne McCalla-Sobers had begun to express some serious problems with the SoE. I believe they both called for an end to the SoE.
8. In light of these problems (see today’s papers for even more concerns by Jamaicans on the SoE), the opposition suggested a 15-day extension, during which time, the govt could back with valid reasons, other than a simple request, for an extension of the SoE. After such time, armed with information to make an informed decision, the addition 15 days could be granted.
9. The govt. flat out rejected it. It was 30 days or nothing. That was what the security forces requested, that is what we should give them. Since when does parliament simply rubber-stamp the request of our security forces? Further, if that be the case, then why wasn’t the original 90-day request not rubber-stamped from the very beginning?
10. The govt.’s rejection of anything but the 30 days is like arguing in court that a dangerous serial killer should either get the death sentence and not life imprisonment as may have been argued by some jurists. So, the judge decides, If he does not get the death sentence, then set him free.
11. To date, I have not heard one sensible response from any govt.
minister (or anyone else for that matter) as to why the initial 15 days could not be accommodated, with the possibility of another 15 days, since the SoE was such an important element in the new war against the country’s worst criminals. If someone has heard even one half-decent response to that suggestion, please share.
12. The govt. now says it will implement a new crime strategy, having failed in their bid to extend the SoE. I cannot wait to see what this is about because I doubt very much we needed to have waited so long for this crime plan and I doubt very much we need a SoE for that plan.
13. Only a few people have stopped to consider that maybe the drastic drop in crime could be attributed to the destruction of the nation’s largest and politically-protected enclave of Tivoli Gardens. It is widely believed that many of the guns in the country had entered through that community via the port that was widely believed to have been controlled by elements in West Kingston.
14. I am of the belief that, despite the appearance that the security forces were now in complete control during the SoE, no longer taking instructions or being hindered by our politicians, I am of the belief that there was still some interference. There is no bigger person of interest than the Prime Minister himself. We need not rehash the details there.
15. It must be remembered that several studies and reports that all have agreed should be implemented in order to combat crime have been ignored for years, by the two political parties. Many of the points in those reports are still not being addressed. Do your own research on these papers.
16. As someone stated in a letter to the Gleaner today: http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gl...s/letters2.php. In particular, please make note of the writer’s view, of which I share: “But let us not ignore the fact that they could have been doing this all along if the politicians had decided before now that would support rather than obstruct the course of justice.”
I shall respond to sensible responses only. Maybe I can join you on another thread then, MissLondon, Lazie and Maudib.
2. The security forces had initially requested a 90 day SoE. The govt. for reasons some may argue were valid, agreed to only one month.
3. Once the SoE got going, the police realised it was an opportunity to go after gunmen in Tivoli and the wider Jamaica. It’s my opinion, given Golding’s history, that the PM merely went along for the ride. He was being pushed by forces that were calling for his resignation on account of his despicable behaviour over the last few months.
4. There were numerous accounts of abuse by the security forces in that first month of the SoE. Keith Clarke’s brutal murder, an incident some are trying to paint as collateral damage, and something that he himself may have brought up on himself, comes quickly to mind, because this was not supposed to happen to uptown people. The abuses downtown were several times worse.
5. The security forces on July 19, 2010 asked parliament to grant them another 30 days. The govt sought approval from parliament for the 30 days. The PNP requested information on the previous two SoE, the successes, the problems, whatever.
6. Such information was not provided by the govt. One f the reasons given was the request for the 30 day extension was only just made and so there was no time to retrieve the information requested. Perhaps the security forces could have been a bit more responsible and make requests of such national importance much earlier in the future.
7. The PNP had sought such clarifications partly because two of Jamaica’s most prominent human rights activists, Dr. Carolyn Gomes and Yvonne McCalla-Sobers had begun to express some serious problems with the SoE. I believe they both called for an end to the SoE.
8. In light of these problems (see today’s papers for even more concerns by Jamaicans on the SoE), the opposition suggested a 15-day extension, during which time, the govt could back with valid reasons, other than a simple request, for an extension of the SoE. After such time, armed with information to make an informed decision, the addition 15 days could be granted.
9. The govt. flat out rejected it. It was 30 days or nothing. That was what the security forces requested, that is what we should give them. Since when does parliament simply rubber-stamp the request of our security forces? Further, if that be the case, then why wasn’t the original 90-day request not rubber-stamped from the very beginning?
10. The govt.’s rejection of anything but the 30 days is like arguing in court that a dangerous serial killer should either get the death sentence and not life imprisonment as may have been argued by some jurists. So, the judge decides, If he does not get the death sentence, then set him free.
11. To date, I have not heard one sensible response from any govt.
minister (or anyone else for that matter) as to why the initial 15 days could not be accommodated, with the possibility of another 15 days, since the SoE was such an important element in the new war against the country’s worst criminals. If someone has heard even one half-decent response to that suggestion, please share.
12. The govt. now says it will implement a new crime strategy, having failed in their bid to extend the SoE. I cannot wait to see what this is about because I doubt very much we needed to have waited so long for this crime plan and I doubt very much we need a SoE for that plan.
13. Only a few people have stopped to consider that maybe the drastic drop in crime could be attributed to the destruction of the nation’s largest and politically-protected enclave of Tivoli Gardens. It is widely believed that many of the guns in the country had entered through that community via the port that was widely believed to have been controlled by elements in West Kingston.
14. I am of the belief that, despite the appearance that the security forces were now in complete control during the SoE, no longer taking instructions or being hindered by our politicians, I am of the belief that there was still some interference. There is no bigger person of interest than the Prime Minister himself. We need not rehash the details there.
15. It must be remembered that several studies and reports that all have agreed should be implemented in order to combat crime have been ignored for years, by the two political parties. Many of the points in those reports are still not being addressed. Do your own research on these papers.
16. As someone stated in a letter to the Gleaner today: http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gl...s/letters2.php. In particular, please make note of the writer’s view, of which I share: “But let us not ignore the fact that they could have been doing this all along if the politicians had decided before now that would support rather than obstruct the course of justice.”
I shall respond to sensible responses only. Maybe I can join you on another thread then, MissLondon, Lazie and Maudib.
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