KINGSTON, Jamaica—A coalition of civil society organisations and human rights defenders are expressing concern over recent comments made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) cannot wear body cameras when going on operations where they are confronting armed criminals.

Human rights advocates Judith Wedderburn, Susan Goffe along with the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC), Equality for All Foundation (EFAF), Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), National Integrity Action (NIA), Stand Up for Jamaica (SUFJ), Wake Up Jamaica, in a press release on Friday, called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to clarify publicly whether the comments made by Dr Chang, on the deployment of body-worn cameras across the Jamaica Constabulary Force represent the official position of his administration — or whether they contradict it.

“The prime minister himself stated publicly, as recently as January 21, 2026, that BWCs (body worn cameras) are not optional and that ‘the Government will provide the necessary budgetary support to ensure that all formations requiring BWCs are adequately equipped’.

Dr Chang’s subsequent remarks raise serious questions about whether that commitment is genuine or merely rhetorical. A Cabinet cannot hold two positions simultaneously, and the sustained silence from the prime minister’s o0ffice in the face of this apparent contradiction can only be interpreted as tacit endorsement — suggesting that the deputy prime minister speaks for the entire Cabinet,” the group said.

The coalition said data from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) confirm that 311 civilians were shot and killed by members of the security forces in 2025 – a staggering 65 per cent increase over the previous year – with planned police operations responsible for nearly half of these fatalities. Likewise, the group said 2025 recorded the highest number of security force-related fatal shootings in over a decade, with numbers mirroring those of 2010.

“While Indecom continues to work diligently to investigate these incidents, the stark reality is that a significant number of fatal incidents lack any independent contemporaneous account from the officers involved. While this in and of itself is not concerning, it becomes a serious accountability issue when citizens give accounts that differ from those of officers, including allegations of warrantless searches and CCTV cameras being pulled down.

Since the start of 2026, 105 persons have already been shot and killed by members of the security forces to date, compared with 102 at the same period last year. This inevitably raises the urgent question: if 2025 saw the highest rate in close to 15 years, what will 2026 bring?,” the civil society coalition questioned.

They noted that body-worn cameras are an internationally recognised, evidence-based tool that promotes police accountability, protects officers from false allegations, builds public trust, deters human rights violations, and provides the independent, real-time evidence that Indecom so critically needs.

“Any policy that deliberately delays or rejects their full implementation raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to constitutional governance and the rule of law,” they said.

“The people of Jamaica deserve transparency, not ambiguity, on an issue that directly affects their safety, their rights, and their confidence in state institutions. Failure to provide this clarification will only deepen public mistrust and reinforce the perception that the government places institutional protection above the constitutional rights of citizens,” the group added.

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