We hope that by today the unrest that has been affecting most of Kingston this week will peter out and that people can again go about their lawful business, unimpeded by roadblocks and threats of violence.

It must be clear by now that there was no widespread enthusiasm for these roadblocks, unlike the popular sentiment of the 1999 gas price demonstrations when people spontaneously joined the protest. Then, people were concerned about the state of the economy and believed they were being unfairly made to bear a further burden.

Our sense is that this time, while there is genuine concern of possible security forces excesses in Tivoli Gardens on Saturday, many Jamaicans believe that there was also an intolerable attack by heavily-armed gunmen on the legitimate forces of the state. Moreover, a policeman and a soldier were killed in the violence and most people did not hear in the cacophony of charges and counter-charges, any expression of concern for those deaths. It was as if, many people have suggested, there was a defence of gunmen and the support of the idea of a state within a state.

We are sure that, on reflection, those who spoke will say that this was not the message they intended to send. In the heat of the moment, with much dissonance on the line, the message was distorted.

This, however, is not to vindicate security excesses and any form of unprofessional conduct on the part of police and soldiers, if there was any.

Happily, the opposition leader, Mr Edward Seaga, has now indicated that he is willing to talk with the government on the violence in West Kingston, under the auspices of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). We would have hoped that he had taken that stand earlier, when so many people were urging dialogue for fear that the crisis would escalate. As it did.

But better late than never. Perhaps with the PSOJ offering its good offices to ensure the dialogue, the parties can now get down to repairing the serious damage that has been done to Jamaica.

We would suggest that near the top of the agenda is a full and impartial investigation into what happened in Tivoli Gardens on Saturday. The prime minister, Mr Patterson, should perhaps initiate such an investigation, even ahead of any talks with Mr Seaga.

That, of course, should be the norm.

Except for the views expressed in the columns above, the articles published on this page do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Jamaica Observer.

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