KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Ann South Eastern, the People’s National Party’s Dr Kenneth Russell says security is crucial to development.

He made the comment in the House of Representatives on November 3 during his contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate.

After applauding the police stationed at the Claremont and Moneague stations in the constituency who he said “continue to serve with excellence”, Russell repeated his call for barracks to be built at the Claremont Station and for additional vehicles to assist them in serving the vast countryside which they cover.

He then pivoted to the issue of security, arguing that “security is not merely the absence of crime, but the confidence that people can live safely, that their rights will be protected”.

He reminded of an incident in April when two brothers – Ramone and Davian Henry – were killed by the police during and operation in Steerfield, St Ann.

Relatives and community members have described the brothers as law-abiding citizens, claiming they were killed in cold blood.

According to police reports, a team from the Area Five fugitive apprehension division conducted a targeted operation at a premises in Steerfield, near Golden Grove, on April 20 in search of a suspect believed to be in possession of prohibited weapons and unauthorised ammunition. On arrival at the location lawmen reportedly entered the house and encountered two armed men. Police say both men pointed firearms at the police and opened gunfire. The police returned fire killing both men.

The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the matter.

During his State of the Constituency presentation on Tuesday, Dr Russell noted that the police and residents have given “sharply different accounts of what happened”.

“The facts must be established through a thorough, independent and transparent investigation. Accountability must follow wherever the evidence leads,” he said.

But, he also lamented that six months have passed and there is still no report from the investigators. “The question is still being asked; “What kind of country are we living in,” he asked before telling the Parliament that security must include opportunity.

“As a country, nothing says more about your brand than how you engage young people. Our young people are ambitious, capable and educated. They need access to skills, employment, enterprise, land and places where they can develop their talents. Too many of our children did what we asked but we have not kept our end of the bargain,” said Russell.

The first-term MP also spoke to the issue of land, housing and community wealth. He told the Parliament that “One of the most enduring consequences of rural inequality is insecurity of land ownership”. Russell noted that families have occupied and developed land for generations, yet many remain without secure tenure or titles.

He pointed to Parry Town and Pine Walk, where  longstanding settlement and land ownership issues require government intervention and a clear process for lasting resolution. He said families in Walkerswood and Moneague also need progress on land titling.

“Land reform must be a central pillar of reparatory development. We need to resolve longstanding settlements, accelerate titling and make suitable public and rehabilitated mined-out lands available for productive use,” Russell insisted. He said housing must be part of that programme.

“That is why we welcome the National Housing Trust’s proposed 775 housing units at Bromley, the Jamaica Bauxite Mining housing development proposed for Lydford, and the private developer building a housing scheme in Beecher Town.

“These investments offer great opportunities. But we must not repeat the mistakes of the extractive industries. Development must not simply take place in a community. Development must happen with the community”.

The Opposition lawmaker said residents must participate in planning and benefit from employment, training, business opportunities and improved infrastructure. He said housing development must also address the needs of surrounding communities, including access to water, roads and public services.

“The same principle must apply to the planned highway expansion. Communities along the route must be consulted, engaged and given meaningful opportunities to benefit,” he said. He has called for the creation of a  Community Benefit and Participation Framework for major developments, including infrastructure projects, housing schemes and extractive industries, arguing that, “The measure of development must include what changes in the lives of the people who were there before the investment began”.

— Lynford Simpson