KINGSTON, Jamaica – The youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is condemning what it describes as reckless, inflammatory and dangerous statements made by People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Damion Crawford in relation to the police watchdog, INDECOM.

According to Young Jamaica, Crawford’s characterization of INDECOM as an “enemy of the state” is a boorish and alarming attack on a commission of the Parliament of Jamaica. The group says the comments were unworthy of a legislator, and in attacking a commission of Parliament, Crawford has called into disrepute the legislature itself.

The organisation says it is deeply concerned that there appears to be a move afoot in the PNP to undermine the legitimacy and effectiveness of the oversight body.

“When one considers Crawford’s increasing attacks, coupled with the security minister’s ill-advised decision to recommend an oversight body for the oversight body, you form the uncomfortable perception that there are forces seeking to destabilize the organization,” Young Jamaica said in a release today.

It added: “The People’s National Party government must definitively declare its hand on whether it supports the work INDECOM is doing in this country. It is becoming increasingly obvious that there are forces within the PNP hell-bent on destroying it. Is this a move to appease disgruntled police personnel ahead of an election? We would recommend to the government that a credible crime strategy be developed. Do not make INDECOM a scapegoat for low police morale.

“We are not going to allow INDECOM to be bullied into submission. This will see us slipping back into the dark days where the law abiding and hardworking men and women of the security forces were overshadowed by the scourge of extrajudicial killings and police abuses. We had an unenviable record where extrajudicial killings are concerned, that number is declining. INDECOM deserves to be strengthened, not attacked and demeaned.

“For the scores of young Jamaicans, especially inner city youth, who are losing faith in the formal justice system, INDECOM represents a champion for their rights. Crawford is grossly misguided if he believes it is anyone’s best interest to take that away.”