Blatant abuse of power

THE EDITOR, Sir:

While we understand that the security forces have extraordinary powers during a State of Emergency (SOE) to search persons and property, to access areas, to restrict business operating hours, and to detain persons without a warrant, it is clear that they have abused their powers and have acted arbitrarily in many cases.

There are hundreds of persons who have been detained since the declaration was made in St James and very few have been charged for crimes.

Instead of carrying out intelligence-led (targeted) operations to find the criminals who are wreaking havoc on the lives of law-abiding citizens, the security forces are rounding up young men of poor socio-economic backgrounds like stray animals and locking them up without any reasonable justification.

It is untenable that State power could be abused in such a way to deny citizens of their right to liberty on the basis that they live in a particular area, or because they dress or look a particular way. These discriminatory practices of the security forces must stop.

Disturbingly, the very Tribunal that was established to provide the checks and balances is, itself, restricted in what it can do. On the face of it, this so-called Tribunal is ineffective and serves no useful purpose since detainees cannot receive redress unless the ministry issues detention orders.

DUJON RUSSELL

dujon.russell@yahoo.com