A Cabinet sub-committee has been considering the report and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the events which occurred in West Kingston and surrounding areas during the month of May 2010.

More than 70 people, including a soldier, were shot dead during an operation to nab then reputed strongman Christoper ‘Dudus’ Coke to serve him an extradition warrant, following a request from the United States for him to answer drugs and gun-running charges.

The justice ministry said yesterday that Prime Minister Andrew Holness appointed the committee, which is chaired by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, and includes Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Culture, Gender and Sports Olivia Grange, Minister of National Security Robert Montague, and Attorney General Marlene Malahoo-Forte.

The justice ministry said the committee will report to the Cabinet periodically on the proposed approach to be taken in the implementation of the 15 recommendations contained in the commissioners’ report.

The committee, Chuck said, would bear in mind the objectives of the recommendations that were outlined in the report of the commission, namely, restoring and promoting trust and confidence in the State; compensating victims for property damage, wrongful death and injuries; controlling the use of force of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, dismantling garrisons and mitigating the conditions that give rise to them.

The committee submitted its first report to the Cabinet on Monday. “The Committee is currently looking at structures and the management of the implementation process because while some of the recommendations are short term, such as the apology that is to be made to the residents of West Kingston, some recommendations will require extensive administrative changes and legislative interventions that will be implemented over a medium to long-term period,” Chuck was quoted in a release by the justice ministry.

“It is important that we begin the process of healing and restorative justice to those persons who were adversely affected by the events”, Chuck said.