Advocacy group urges probe after cop reportedly removes student from JUTC bus
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) is calling for an official investigation into a viral incident involving an off-duty cop and a student aboard a Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus.
The advocacy group says it is deeply concerned by a video circulating on social media in which a young student alleges she was ordered by an off-duty policewoman to leave a JUTC bus despite having already paid her fare. According to the student’s account, she was removed without any apparent lawful or reasonable justification.
The foundation said that, if the allegations are substantiated, the incident raises significant concerns about the treatment of children, the exercise of public authority and the duty of care owed to minors in public spaces.
FWCF is urging the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the JUTC to launch a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the matter.
“No individual, including a police officer, possesses arbitrary authority. The exercise of any public power must be lawful, reasonable, proportionate, and consistent with the constitution, the rule of law and Jamaica’s obligations under the Child Care and Protection Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Where a child is involved, the child’s best interests must remain the paramount consideration,” said Kayla Wright, FWCF consultant and attorney-at-law.
The group noted that removing a child from public transportation without ensuring their safety, particularly if the child has no alternative means of travel, could expose the child to unnecessary risk and deserves careful examination.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of children, FWCF called on the relevant authorities to establish the facts, determine whether proper procedures were followed and take appropriate action if any misconduct is found.
The foundation emphasised that every child has the right to be treated with dignity, protected from unnecessary harm and to have their best interests prioritised in all decisions affecting them.
