Dear Editor,

The elitism and arrogance of our elected representatives is clearly demonstrated by the fact that constituents islandwide have been crying out for an end to police savagery and brutality and for trust in the police force to be restored.

But what do our elected representatives do? They simply entrust the Jamaica Constabulary Force with more powers, such as the anti-gang legislation and by increasing fines for speeding.

The call by the people for a reformed police force is simply met with the creation of a new MOCA under a very good man, but with the same police is left intact, leaving this agency with as much chance of success as a snowball in hell!

Our problem now appears not to be with our Government, but with our elected representatives. Even if we were to change the present PNP Government, which is most unlikely given the somnolence of the comatose leader of the Opposition and the JLP, there is not likely to be any change in the way the country’s business is administered and the people’s welfare is addressed.

So now we have yet another killing in a police lockup. It is quite irrelevant why Mario Deane was placed in the lock-up. The police were responsible for his safety and welfare. It is my bet the people’s protests will be ignored once again and not one MP will bring to parliament a motion expressing outrage and condemnation. Was there any such outrage expressed by our parliament over the brutal killing of Kamoza Clarke in the Falmouth police lock-up?

Undoubtedly, we will get grandstanding from our elected parliamentarians regarding the killing of Mario Deane. They will blame everything on our laws for allowing someone to be locked up for a ‘spliff’. There will be no condemnation of the killing; just that “persons should not be locked up for a spliff”.

Our MPs have demonstrated that they are uncaring when it comes to the rights of ordinary Jamaicans. How else can one explain why our Parliament has virtually glossed over the largest killing of over 76 Jamaicans by the security forces since Independence during the security forces operation in Tivoli Gardens in 2010? And the inquiry has still not started. Or is it that the minister of national security has already signalled what is to be expected at such an inquiry: “The requested information cannot be provided as it is not in the interest of national security.”

Colonel Allan Douglas

Kingston 10

alldouglas@aol.com