What happened to Keith Clarke?

ON MONDAY, a popular professional woman made a certain accusation about Keith Clarke as it relates to Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is now in the United States awaiting trial on drug and gun-related charges. Apparently, she had not heard that those rumours had been dismissed by his daughter and his brother, Claude, who is a former Cabinet minister.

The security forces should have dispelled these rumours by now. It is unfortunate for Keith to have died in suspicious circumstances and, to add insult to injury, his reputation is being tarnished. In 2006, in an article titled 'Adopt best British policing practices' I recommended that there be regular updates on crime fighting. The security forces should have been offering at least quarterly updates on the May 2010 death of Keith. As it stands, a year later, the matter is unresolved and, as stated in my article of January 6, "There are some unresolved issues from 2010, such as what happened in the killing of Keith Clarke and 73 persons in the Tivoli incursion."

What happened to Keith Clarke? Based on the testimonies of his neighbours, and three neighbours are members of Boulevard Baptist Church, the operation at Kirkland Heights was awful. There was sustained gunfire for what appears to be an hour. The community was traumatised and could not understand what was happening. They knew Keith as a friend, decent citizen for 30-odd years. Based on their testimonies, it seems apparent that the security forces went to the wrong address while being confident they were on the trail of Dudus.

What happened to Keith Clarke? Apparently, Keith on hearing the sustained gunfire and not knowing they were security forces had his licensed firearm to protect family and self. And the members of the security forces, perhaps, seeing a gun in Keith's hand, fired at him with their assault rifles. Perhaps, there were two soldiers each pulling the trigger once; but the nature of the weapon meant that eleven bullets were discharged simultaneously, hence Keith being shot 22 times, leaving his wife and daughter traumatised and the family home destroyed. That is what likely happened to Keith.

What happened to Clarke should not have happened. Even if he was a person who had committed a serious crime, he should not be executed. He desires to be tried by his peers. Life is losing its sanctity, specialness and uniqueness. There needs to be a higher premium placed on the intrinsic value of life.

greater responsibility

Furthermore, there needs to be greater acceptance of responsibility when life has been accidentally lost. Years ago, a mentally ill person was beaten and killed at the hands of security forces, but no one could identify which member committed the crime. I suggested that someone in the security forces should resign. Jamaicans for Justice was in the forefront in the fight for the rights of the deceased, but no one was charged. And now, see what has happened to Keith. In India, a train derailed and lives were lost and the minister of transport resigned. He took responsibility, and offering his job is a small token for the lives lost. Not so in Jamaica. However, the Clarke family should be compensated for destruction of property, an apology given, resignation made and other appropriate measures.

What happened to Keith Clarke can happen to anyone. It means also that what happened to Keith could possibly have happened to some residents of Tivoli. What happened to Keith means that accusation of brutality by the security forces is not a figment of people's imagination.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew.