Gov't senator urges public to wear blue tomorrow in solidarity with police

Government senator and senior member of the Jamaica Labour Party's Communications Taskforce, Marlon Morgan, has urged members of the public to wear blue tomorrow in solidarity with the police to coincide with a planned protest of police killings by human rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ).

JFJ's protest is scheduled for tomorrow at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew.

Some 106 persons have been killed by the police since the start of the year, and JFJ as part of its protest, says it plans to bring together grieving relatives, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens in a stand against extrajudicial killings.

However, Morgan contends that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has seen more oversight today than any other time in its history.

"While the JCF and its members are not above criticisms, at a time when Jamaica is registering historic and welcomed reductions in murders and other major crimes, the interest of the country would be better served by constructive criticisms of the police instead of tearing them down," charged Morgan.

"Given the scourge of criminality and particularly violent crimes, with which Jamaica has had to grapple over many years, there can be no denying that our policemen and women work under tough and trying circumstances," noted Morgan. "The efforts and energies of all well-thinking Jamaicans should be focused on supporting and encouraging our hardworking policemen and women, not tearing them down."

The senator said that he is pleased with the JCF's efforts to foster a "culture of accountability and professionalism", through ongoing human rights sensitisation, and partnership with independent sleuths such as the Independent Commission of Investigations and the Police Citizens Oversight Authority (PCOA).

He urged the public to "shun utterance and actions, which only serve the interests of wanton criminals and not the majority".

Morgan pointed out that there was a 36.6 per cent reduction in murders up to April 26 this year when compared to the corresponding period last year.

- Corey Robinson

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