Dear Editor,

Until the powers that be stop harbouring and supporting criminals when it suits them, criminality and terrorism will remain with us. We have to decide what kind of world we want to live in and be consistent in the application of justice.

Here in Jamaica, there are many known criminals who are untouchable because of their connections. On the other hand, many innocent persons are suffering in prison for crimes they did not commit, simply because they don’t have a power hook-up or the money to hire top-flight attorneys or to bribe someone in the justice system.

In the United States, known criminals like Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, both former CIA operatives, who took part in the bombing of Cubana Airline Flight 455 in 1976, walk freely in Florida. Seventy-three passengers and crew died as a result of that act of terror.

On the other hand, five innocent Cubans, Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Ramon Labanino and Fernando Gonzalez are in prison for 11 years now on trumped-up charges. They did not harm anyone or carry out any criminal or terrorist act. What they did was to investigate terrorist groups who have planned and executed countless terrorist acts against Cuba using Florida as their base. They turned over their findings to the US State Department who rewarded them with an unfair trial and subsequent imprisonment. Following their imprisonment, the conservative 11th Circuit Court of Appeal, after a year of deliberation and 93 pages of solid evidence, noted that the five Cubans did not receive a fair trial, ruled to reverse their conviction and ordered a new trial. Nonetheless they are still in jail.

There are many other examples that could be cited of criminals and terrorists being cuddled while innocent people are being punished but the case of the five Cubans stands out both for its injustice and the fact that it has taken place during the “war on terror”.

Our generation of Jamaicans need to make a difference in the world by advocating real justice at home and abroad.

Bobby Johnson

bobbyjohnson6@gmail.com