Dear Editor,

Last week, I followed the evidence given at the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry (COE) and was left feeling troubled by the revelations relating to the use of mortars and the execution of the military-led operation into Tivoli Gardens in 2010.

It is accepted that the enquiry continues to be conducted as a legal contest in which its lawyers are discharging their professional responsibilities, as they would in the normal course of a court trial for their clients, and not necessarily assisting the COE in ferreting out the whole truth. However, what I did not expect is the extent to which those giving evidence, especially from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), appeared to be either withholding evidence or providing evidence that is effectively confusing or obfuscating the real issues.

It may be, of course, that the commissioners at the enquiry have a better understanding of such things as firing mortars under control circumstances and into open spaces in urban areas, command relationships, troop coordination and capabilities, and the training requirements of those employed to operate weapon systems, such as the 81mm mortars referred to in evidence. However, whether they do or do not, as a former military officer, I found last week’s evidence contradictory and not in keeping with well-established military doctrine or practice. Based entirely on the evidence given so far, it appears there was such a lack of coordination between units operating in Tivoli during the 2010 operation, so much so that a battalion commander only found out about the employment of a support weapon system after he had heard explosions.

It may be, of course, that the commissioners at the enquiry have a better understanding of such things as firing mortars under control circumstances and into open spaces in urban areas, command relationships, troop coordination and capabilities, and the training requirements of those employed to operate weapon systems, such as the 81mm mortars referred to in evidence. However, whether they do or do not, as a former military officer, I found last week’s evidence contradictory and not in keeping with well-established military doctrine or practice. Based entirely on the evidence given so far, it appears there was such a lack of coordination between units operating in Tivoli during the 2010 operation, so much so that a battalion commander only found out about the employment of a support weapon system after he had heard explosions.

I don’t suppose he was aware of the US air asset, which has finally been accepted as being part of this Jamaican military operation. While the Tivoli COE is sitting, I do not intend to deal with the doctrinal breaches or issues in detail, or for that matter to discuss whether the evidence is logical or sound. To do so would, I believe, be unethical and possibly unfair to the process. However, I do believe I have a duty to bring a real deep concern to the public’s attention. That concern has to be with the current members of the JDF who must certainly be forming some negative views of what they have heard from their past and current superiors. If they determine that their former or present leaders have not told the truth, it could very well lead to a loss of respect for authority and a consequential breakdown in discipline.

We need only look to South America and parts of Africa where military bodies lose respect for authority. The consequences are always disastrous. It may well be that the evidence given was the truth and, if that it is so, we should now brace ourselves for more cavalier-type military operations, which displays a total disregard for the manner in which disciplined military forces are trained to operate.

Colonel Allan Douglas

Kingston 10