Chang chimes in on rights abuse claims

Minister of Water and Housing Dr Horace Chang has dismissed claims by human-rights lobbyists that there has been an increase in abuses by the security forces.

Last week, in a report to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) claimed incidents of human-rights abuse have rocketed to troubling heights in the aftermath of the bloody military operations in west Kingston.

JFJ also pointed to an increase in the number of fatal shootings by the police last year as proof that human rights are under threat in Jamaica.

While addressing Jamaica Labour Party supporters at its monthly Area Council One meeting yesterday, Chang claimed there have been fewer shootings by the police since the start of the year when compared with other periods.

nelson scoffed earlier

His response came days after National Security Minister Dwight Nelson and the Police High Command scoffed at the claims by JFJ.

Nelson had pointed to the latest numbers regarding fatal shootings by the police as proof that the security forces are moving in the right direction.

He said there had been 41 fatal shootings as compared with 78 for the corresponding period last year, with the number of fatal shootings by the police down almost 50 per cent.

Chang congratulated Police Commissioner Owen Ellington for his efforts to reduce major crimes across the country.

"I am sure that there are many communities that you can now walk the streets at nights in, you can play domino on the light again, the church people going to prayer meeting and don't feel bad, those people will feel positive," he said.

Murders have dropped by 44 per cent since the start of the year, while shootings have declined by 38 per cent.