We’ll need a Commission of Enquiry

Monday, May 24, 2010

WHEN some semblance of quiet has finally returned, there may have to be a Commission of Enquiry into the stranger-than-fiction events surrounding the proposed extradition of Mr Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Quite apart from the fact that the developments have left prime minister, Mr Bruce Golding and his Government hanging by a thread, the State under threat, and Jamaicans traumatised, there are several questions that should be asked and answered relating to the approach and strategies adopted by the security forces.

To begin with, how is it that criminals and their supporters in and around Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston were able to set up massive barricades blocking entrance to the community without the immediate or pre-emptive intervention of the security forces? And how is it that a large protest march which we assume was unauthorised was allowed to proceed through the streets of downtown Kingston with a section of that march coming within hailing distance of the parliament building?

In the context of unfolding events, including yesterday's declaration of a limited State of Public Emergency in Kingston and St Andrew, such questions may seem trivial to some. In fact, this newspaper believes they go to the very heart of the issue.

Could it be that at an operational level, the police High Command is so lacking in vision and proactive capacity that it did not rehearse and plan for the events of last week? Or is it that the much-pronounced operational independence of the police is no more than a poorly-constructed mirage.

We note that disturbing questions have been raised about Mr Golding's true intentions in announcing his Government's complete about-face on the extradition process during an address to the nation.

But even if, as has been suggested in some quarters, the West Kingston gangsters knew about the Government's change of heart even before the security forces, there seems no logical explanation for the failure to prevent unlawful elements from doing as they pleased.

We would suggest to police commissioner, Owen Ellington, and his team that immediate and proper pre-emptive action would have exemplified the high level of professionalism he has been promising law-abiding residents of West Kingston and the wider Jamaica over recent days.

Perhaps the bloodshed and mayhem that has accompanied some police operations in West Kingston, down the years, stayed the hand of the authorities this time around. But at a time when our political leaders have so compromised themselves that every word and deed is open to question, it is very important that the High Command of the security forces be seen to be above the fray and able to act properly in defence of law and order.

It cannot be that under any circumstances they should simply look on while criminals turn a community into a no-go zone.

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COMMENTS (24)

george watson
6/3/2010

What will the commission of enqury do? The "innocents" will say their familes were massacred and the security forces, as most of us believe, were attacked by scum and hoodlums and murderers. The fight was taken to the state with the burning of the police station and the erection of booby-trapped barriers to prevent a warrant being served on one man.
I have never been prouder of the security forces..
I say not enough of them were killed, so there.

bdan eboy
5/31/2010

It seems as those of u are safely tucked in ur suburbs or in other countries and havent visited TG/west kgn, including u Mr Editor. Have a problem with the occurrences of last wk, The actions of JCF/JDF & Blair were on point. The force patrolling & observing the barricades erecting could not intervene, it had to be a combine effort from the hierarchy of the forces. The same goes for the march. As for the integrity of Mr Ellington, I think you are asking all the wrong questions at this time.

paul m
5/28/2010

Wow...I am truly amazed at all the "security experts" on here ...So easy to sit behind as a "computer warrior" and criticize what you have never witnessed or been a part of...well then "computer warriors" tell the JCF/JDF how this should have been dealt with ....I dont think you can for the same reason they dont come to your work place to tell you how to care for old people/sit in a cubicle since thats what most of you probably do to get your "expert qualifications

gary lee
5/24/2010

@poco loco
I am sure Nadine Johnson can defend herself and her views, but I find your comments of her to be distasteful and more likely to litter this forum than hers!

Jah Selassi
5/24/2010

Nowhere else in the world could thugs openly challenge the country's security forces and remain standing? Why are the security forces not conducting house to house searches in these volatile areas? Jamaica needs to forget about hurting the "sufferers" feelings and get the job done. Trust me, these "sufferers" will thank you in the end. Even in the most liberal country this could never take place.
We all know this fight was coming, it has been brewing for 30years. Lets just get it over and done so we can start to rebuild Jamaica to what it should be. Safe and prosperous for everyone,,,not for only Dons.
The objective of this fight is to eradicate the garrison communities, physically and mentally. Yes it's going to be tough, it's going to be hard, both innocent and guilty people will die, but at the end, every Jamaican will be able to walk free again. What we are fighting for is nothing short of Jamaicas FREEDOM.

JA Cynic
5/24/2010

Any group of kindergarten school children would have handled the situation better tha this bundling by the JLP/GOJ.
Infact , it would not be surprising to learn that this debacle has been planned by that cabal called"persons within the JLP" (PWJ).
Jamaican had better get use to the PWJ and they have the necessary clout--financially & otherwise-- to get the Party Leader to "sanction " their conspiracies.
JA Cynic

Poco Loco
5/24/2010

Nadine Johnson, Are you an ass, a jackass or both? You know yourself better than me so pick the one that describe you best. We are trying to get the guns out of the country and you are trying to put more guns in the country. Where did you have your head when you wrote this piece of poppycock? Keeping your head where the sun doesn't shine is dangerous for your thinking ability in case you haven't figured that out yet. It is very clear you are writing from cheap computer and learning to type. No wonder our beloved country is in such mess because of people like you.
If you don't have anything good to say just keep your mouth shut. Don't come litter the forum with your hogwash and cock and bull crap. Guns? To do what, kill people? Idiot!

S. Reece
5/24/2010

Does our constitution allow us to impeach public officials? Why wait for them to resign (if they so choose). Let's weed them out. This is way past being absurd.

Alloy T
5/24/2010

What kind of sangki bruce ah sing! We will repel criminals; when he as the PM of Jamaica was openly defending and protecting an alleged criminal, and the government which he heads supply this criminal with over $100 million of tax-payers hard earn money. The 'Driva" has breached the regulations that governs him holding a licence to drive, and as such, his licence must be revoked.
We bought into "The change is coming now...;" but mi neva know seh ah da change yah him did mean.
Mi and mi neighbour did vote fi labour. But now, mi and mi neighbour ah run from labour!

Wharf Dawg
5/24/2010

Mr. Editor the questions you asked are pertinent. Why did the Police High Command turned a blind eye to these acts of tyranny is anybody's guess. The lame excuse about not wanting to inflame the situation suggests to me that the decision makers were more concerned about how they'd be perceived rather than upholding the law.
This act alone was most empowering and has resulted in these roadblocks being seen as a weapon of choice all over the Corporate Area. Commissioner Ellington must be made to answer for his inactions. This cannot go unanswered.

Maude Cooper
5/24/2010

I wonder what the financial cost is going to total for the taxpayers of Jamaica. From retaining lawyers for Dudus, to building damages, to removing of debris from roads and most of all to priceless lives loss.

Andy Stewart
5/24/2010

I say again:
What security planning was put in place before the decision to extradite was made. In your haste to save your own neck you may have caused a bigger problem, we all understand that extraditing this sub-human may cause a problem and as such requires detail security planning to contain any problem that may arise. In most countries you would wake up to the news that the person was arrested, extradited and sitting in a NY prison cell, with a strong security forces presence already deployed and a state of emergency in place.

Andy Stewart
5/24/2010

I did not understand the stance adopted by the Government and security forces at the start of this madness. Nothing was done to regain control of the streets, barricades were erected and nothing was done to remove them, people ran crazy thru the streets and nothing was done to prevent it. By not taking a stand we sent the wrong signals making these people believe that they were in fact all powerful, untouchable and run things. You are the Government and the security forces for 2.8 million people and yet you allow several hundred to hold the entire country hostage. You give a man an inch he will take a yard, people are acting like we should cuddle these criminals, plead to them to stop. No, you go in full force and take control of the situation.

Kelly Andrews
5/24/2010

I am amazed at how incompetent the Jamaican security force and government both past and present operate. I include the past administration as I understand that the wire tapping that started this whole incident began from the previous administration. One would have thought that the security force would have used the intelligence gathers from wire tapping to have the suspect under continued surveillance and then clam down and eventually arrest the suspect. All this could have done and the public only made aware after the fact. Is it that we like the drama and excitement?
We have to use intelligence to fight crime. It cannot be that we are going to depend on the USA to request extradition of all the so call dons to create more drama and excitement. I am sure that Jamaica has laws against people importing illegal weapons into the country. To the security force and government use the intelligence to fight crime and enforce the laws that are on the books.

John Smith
5/24/2010

True a commission of enquiry - not comprised of or headed by any government minister - into the whooole shebang. After that facts are revealed we'll know whose word we can trust and whose word we can't.

Paul Lewis
5/24/2010

The Security Forces have been frustrated in their attempt at Law enforcement that now they seem totally useless. Whoever employed this strategy by the Police in response to the Lawlessness....appears not to be qualified to be a school crossing guard. This ridiculous display of fear is unbecoming of any serious Police organization. Commissions of Enquiry are a waste of time and money...we all know who and what has caused our decent into the pit of hell.

Wa Tch
5/24/2010

"We note that disturbing questions have been raised about Mr Golding's true intentions in announcing his Government's complete about-face on the extradition process during an address to the nation"
Disturbing indeed. We MUST think on these things.

Claude Ingram
5/24/2010

I don’t think we should criticise the strategy being pursued by the security forces just yet. We must wait and see how it unfolds. We must also try not to speculate least we guess correctly and forewarn the combatants who have access to information via media, mobile phones, satellite broadcast, cable and possibly police communications equipment.

Chuck Emanuel
5/24/2010

Now it has even become much clearer why outside intervention by the U.S. in terms of the provision of the expertise of Gorilla warfare which is needed to neturalize these scum-bags (Political directorate, terrorists and some members of Leadership in the police force).
All of these persons by sitting and watching have further contributed to undermine the state.
I do not know much about the integrity of the new Police Commissioner, however from what I have seen of his Leadership Capacity in terms of planning and execution makes me quite uncomfortable and suspicious of his behaviour in this crisis.
Is the Commissioner just another person from a corrupt system, who begged for this job, or was placed in this job to don't "rock the boat ?.
Or does he have to wait for his orders from the weak Minister of National Security and a Government who aids and abets criminals ?.
There seems to be some strange developements here.

josh davis
5/24/2010

I watched men filling bags with sand,i saw trucks bringing in material for road blocks.We need that guy who is now commish to go,we need dwight nelson to go,we need daryl vaz to go,we need bruce golding to be investigated and arrested for his part in all of this.

Nadine Johnson
5/24/2010

I Hope When all Is Done All Citizen Of Jamaica Will be Able To Bear Arms. We All See The Thugs Are Armed And DANGEROUS. There Is No Way The State Will Be Able To get back Those Guns. Let Every Citizen who Is Of Sound Mind And Does Not Have a Criminal Record Be Able To bear Arms. If Ever A Situation Like This Occur Again The Citizen Can team Up And Offer Help To The Police And Army. The law Makers Please act on That For Citizen. LET Us Have Some PROTECTION, Just Now we are Helpless Armed The citizen Of Jamaica, Only So WE Can Help.Bruce Get Rid Of The MOLE In Your Party.

Brooklyn Jamaican
5/24/2010

The Police are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I suspect most opposition to police has less to do with alleged corruption, than the slackness and opposition to decency and rule of law that exists.

Brooklyn Jamaican
5/24/2010

Commissions of Inquiry are as dubious as the events surrounding this whole drama. Babylon must be given free reign to do whatever, no questions asked. After all do the "shottas" operate under any rules of engagement? Using women and children as canon fodder.

Gary Watson
5/24/2010

Edward Seaga, Bruce, James Roberts, Vaz, Samuda, Desmond and a few others MUST be charged with treason as they have over the years CREATED this heinous monster known as Tivoli Gardens and have prevented the Security Forces from doing their jobs within the law on previous attempts. They cannot plead ignorance. Rather, it will not be accepted.
Other charges; murder (for any innocent civilians & members of the security forces that meet their end), withholding information,aiding and abetting and any other associated charges that can be found.They have fooled many Jamaicans into think that the Security Forces are the enemy. NO MORE!!
This must never be allowed to happen again. The security forces must never again be prevented from carrying out its mandate by politicians or await political approval.Today marks the DEATH of the Mother of all Garrisons.
My prayers are with you the Security Forces. I am soooo sorry that I am not there with you at this grave and important hour.

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We’ll need a Commission of Enquiry