10 Jamaican police forced into retirement

These 10 police officers in Jamaica were forced into early retirement because they were thought to be involved in criminal activity.  A huge lottery scam a subject I have blogged about before, see this post.

But instead of bringing criminal charges against them, they have been retired early in the “public interest”.   Is it just me, or does this seem odd?

How can there be no evidence against them for such a wide scale fraud?  Do they have no assets?  There must be some pretty strong suspicions if they were forced to retire. In fact, the force couldn’t even prove misconduct against them.  If they cannot investigate matters like this, what does this say about the ability of the police to investigate themelves  – especially when it comes to the issue of police shootings in the form of extra judicial killings or is that a euphemism for murder.

Jungle Justice

South Camp prison in Kingston photo by Christina Xu

What I am about to write, is not unrelated to my last post about police in Jamaica dispensing their own kind of justice.

In a clear admission that the court system is not working, the Prime minister says the system is under “severe stress”; he and his Justice Minister have come up with this idea of  “restorative justice”.  It’s a project where, as far as I can tell,  ordinary people can get some kind of training and then dispense this within their communities.

I’d be interested in looking at the whole system of justice in Jamaica – or rather the lack of it.  Starting off at the gun court, where witnesses are afraid to speak out and murderers go free.  Then to look at how the law works through the eyes of one of the island’s lawyers.  I knew someone who always had to go to the police station to get her nephew bailed out all the time, but those youths (his friends) who did not have a family member knowledgable in the law, then there was an entirely different kind of justice for them – usually ending up in GP.

Then there’s  jungle justice that this new programme is trying to replace.

But why replace it?

Jungle justice is cheap, because it doesn’t involve expensive lawyers, it’s quick because no court delays hold it up,  it’s a deterrent because it usually involves an execution and it’s a clear for all to see, because it happens right there on the street.

Seems rather more effective than what happens in the Gun Court.

Ghetto living – uptown

If you were a gangster, controlling a group of young shottas, dominating a community in the deprived ghetto areas of Kingston, Jamaica, if you were profiting from a nice income from extortion or drug running – where would you lay your sleepy head every night?

According to this report, the top men are residing, not under the zinc roof in seaview gardens or jungle where they rule the roost – oh no – they’re laying low uptown. Enjoying the cool breeze in the hills.   Hope Pastures, Jack’s Hill, Cherry Gardens.

I can’t say I blame them.  Escaping the likelihood of getting shot in a police raid.  Or from a rival gang’s bullets.  Not to mention the lack of adequate sanitation and room size.  If you could escape all that of course you would.  It’s just a shame that the ordinary people blighted by gang warfare can’t move themselves and their young children away from it.

High Profile policeman set to leave JA

The British police officer Mark Shields who joined the Jamaican police in 2005 is leaving next year.  see full article here  .  i remember when this guy first came in.   There was all this talk about what he could possibly do, whether indeed it was the right thing to do to ask former colonial rulers to come in and try and sort out the mess.  Well after a good few years, what has been achieved?  Well he managed to get one don behind bars (see this post I wrote about the dons)

He’s come under abit of scrutiny for his lifestyle – sexy life living it up, going to see the cricket all the time, looking relaxed and belonging to an elite social circle.   In his house on Jamaican foothills and his relationship with various women he’s been labelled as a very eligible bachelor from some parts of the press.

He was in charge of the murder inquiry into cricket guy Wolmer, which seemed to be onto something when he said something about corruption in the game – but then that didn’t really go anywhere and then things went abit pear shaped there when he backtracked on this point and the debate regarding whether Wolmer was actually poisoned or whether he died of natural causes.

That’s what’s mostly been written about him which doesn’t really say much about what he’s actually achieved.  Has it been worth the money Jamaica has paid him?  Are ordinary Jamaicans better off for having him working in the force?

I would tactfully suggest that the jury is still out on that point, but I would be interested in hearing what you think about it.  Some people might say he is quite good looking nonetheless.  He’s not my type - I hasten to add.

Out, Proud, Jamaican and a Policeman???

There is a citizen journalism project run by a cable channel, and someone posted this vid which is just excellent. the interview is of a policeman in the Jamaican constabulary who never hid his sexuality. He suffered as a result of course, but I find his story and his attitude completely unusual but entirely uplifting.

more about “Out, Proud, Jamaican and a Policeman???“, posted with vodpod