IN an apparent first for Jamaica, the police are to appoint an independent monitor of their investigation of the murder of AIDS and gay rights activist Steven Harvey, and could do the same in future investigations of gay men believed to have been killed because of their sexual preferences, according to deputy police commissioner Mark Shields.

“I have considered an independent advisor, who may initially be one person,” Shields told the Observer yesterday. “But as the need arises we may have to increase to any number of persons, which is deemed appropriate to carry out such duties.”

Shields is in charge of the crime portfolio. His decision to have a civilian review of how the police handle the Harvey case is a response to claims by Jamaican and international gay rights activists that the police have not been aggressive enough, not only in this investigation, but those involving crimes against gay men generally.

Shields conceded that there has been this pressure.

“I have received several calls from human rights groups internationally and I have expressed to them that I would keep them up-to-date and informed as to where the investigations are heading,” he said.

Harvey, who worked with the NGO, Jamaica AIDS Support, was killed a month ago in Kingston. Five men apparently intercepted him as he returned home from work one evening.

The attackers are reported to have taken Harvey into the home where other persons who were there were tied up. Harvey, having been allegedly warned that he would be harmed because of his sexual preference, was driven away. His body was found the next day.

Jamaica has a reputation for homophobia and there have been claims by international human rights group that not only are gay men targeted here but that they can hardly expect protection from the police who, allegedly, often join the abuse.

Such claims reached a crescendo last year after the murder of Brian Williamson, the founder and leader of the gay rights group J-FLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays).

The Jamaican authorities often point out that there is no government-sanctioned policy of abuse of gays. Moreover, critics of the claims by gays that there are frequent attacks and murder of homosexuals, point to the fact that Jamaica has one of, if not the world’s highest murder rate and a low rate of solving crime by the police.

Already there are nearly 1,500 murders here this year – a rate of 57 per 100,000 population – and if the trend holds, less than 50 per cent of these will be cleared up, meaning that the police have identified a suspect.

Police could not say last night what proportion of the murder victims were heterosexuals and what was the “cleared-up” ratio based on the sexual preferences of the victims.

The authorities, however, remained under both subtle and overt pressure yesterday to act swiftly in the Harvey case and others involving gays.

For instance, the United Nations body UNAIDS, in praising Harvey’s work on HIV/AIDS awareness, claimed confidence that the government would investigate his murder “to ensure that those who committed this hideous crime are brought to justice”.

“UNAIDS reiterates its support for the strengthening of efforts by the Jamaican government to address homophobia and other causes of stigma and discrimination, which are fuelling the spread of AIDS, not only in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean,” the agency said.

The Caribbean Community’s AIDS awareness project, PANCAP, also issued a statement similar in tone.

“No effort should be spared in tearing down the walls of stigma and discrimination, which can undermine our collective efforts to effectively respond to this epidemic,” PANCAP said. “Bold and decisive leadership is a must.”

Shields was confident that even without the oversight that he will now put in, the Harvey case was being properly investigated.

“I am taking a personal interest in the investigation and its outcome,” he said.