Dear Editor,

Former Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, while speaking at the People’s National Party’s Granville divisional conference of Councillor Michael Troupe on Sunday, stated that under no circumstance should the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government of Andrew Holness seek to take away our constitutional rights, as per amending several pieces of legislation, including the Bail Act, which would impinge on our rights.

He commented that there is absolutely no need to amend those laws but instead, the JLP should seek to equip the police force and have them proceed to tackle the multifaceted crime problem by enforcing the law and professionally investigating those murders taking place all over the country.

Dr Phillips rightfully spoke up for the constitutional rights of citizens and for the Government to desist from interfering with those laws which are protecting the rights of us citizens. I wholeheartedly agree with and congratulate him for speaking up for all Jamaicans in a vociferous manner.

Why is this Government wanting to amend laws such as the Bail Act when those amendments would take away protection from us citizens guaranteed under the Jamaican Constitution and allow widespread abuse and detention of us citizens for months without charge?

Every Jamaican charged with a criminal act, even murder, is entitled to bail except under specified situations, as outlined in the Bail Act. Why are the Government and the attorney general wanting to take away judges’ discretion in granting bail, asks Dr Phillips and Senator Mark Golding. I am asking the same question here.

Are we seeing an autocratic Government in place now, seeking to step on the constitutional rights which our forebears fought so hard to put into place? I agree with Dr Phillips, we cannot allow this Government to act as a law unto themselves, carving away our main constitutional rights and wanting to abolish jury trials for murder cases. No way, Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Equip the police and allow them to do their jobs efficiently.

Also, why was the attorney general speaking in Parliament on proposed changes to certain laws when it is the justice minister’s job function? That is a very strange development. This JLP Government seems only interested in infringing on our constitutional rights and turning this country into a police state. This is intolerable.

And national security minister, “Bobby” Montague thinks the solution is to give more citizens gun licences? What for? So that the murder rate will significantly increase? God help us!

Andrew Bedasse

Lucea, Hanover

andrewbedasse@yahoo.com