People's Report
Published:Saturday | July 2, 2011 | 12:00 AM
No justice for accused cops
Below is an open letter to Chief Justice Zaila McCalla:
I want to highlight the unjust manner in which police officers accused of crimes are being treated in the Mandeville Resident Magistrate's Court.
It appears that sitting magistrates have - without any arguments, legal or otherwise, from either prosecution or defence - recused themselves from matters involving police officers.
I ask of you, Madam Chief Justice, what could be the reason for this stance? Aren't police officers subject to the same laws and principles of justice as any citizen of Jamaica? Aren't police officers citizens of Jamaica? Have these magistrates lost the ability to adjudicate in the customary impartial manner? Is someone influencing (corruptly, in my view) the independence of the judiciary? Has the judiciary lost its independence?
To exacerbate the situation, Madam, one police officer whose case has been proceeding interminably for six years is being told by the magistrate (for more than a year now) that a written request for a magistrate from outside the parish was submitted to you in your capacity as chief justice, but to date, said magistrate is indicating that you are yet to hazard a response.
I call on you, Madam Chief Justice, to end this travesty, this parody maybe, of what is being masqueraded as justice. Thank you.
Frustrated Constable
Mandeville, Manchester
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Express mail to Caribbean - a postal service hiccup
On Friday, June 17, I took the initiative to use Jamaica's postal service to mail documents to Trinidad and Tobago through the International Express Mail Service (EMS). I was reliably informed by the authorities in Jamaica that the package would have arrived at its destination in Trinidad and Tobago in three to five working days.
Thankfully, the package arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, June 22. Subsequent follow-ups with the Jamaican authorities revealed that the package was on location at the Postal Corporation in Trinidad and Tobago and was awaiting delivery.
Editor, Sir, I anticipated that the documents would have arrived at an institution in Trinidad and Tobago on or before Thursday, June 30. My telephone call to the Postal Corporation in Trinidad and Tobago on June 29 revealed that the package was not yet at T&T Post, but rather at Trinidad and Tobago's Customs and Excise Division awaiting clearance (at the convenience of the T&T authorities).
My experience with the service has led me to conclude that the manner in which postal and customs authorities operate is another sore point for Caribbean integration. My letter to you is by no means an attack on the Postal Corporation of Jamaica. It is rather an admonition to those in favour of 'customer satisfaction' to review or, at least, become more aware of the process by which express mail out of the Jamaica Postal Corporation are received and treated at the ports of entry for Caribbean territories where international mail is received. I would hope that Jamaica will lobby for an intrapostal service that has a more effective and collaborative tracking and delivery system for 'express' packages.
The service costs half as much as that of major international couriers, but my concern is that individuals using the international Express Mail Service (EMS) have no means of redress when their packages do not arrive at their final destination (within the Caribbean) after eight or even 10 working days. In the long run, the express service will make little sense if the three- to five-day delivery time frame only applies to express mail exiting Jamaica.
It is beyond me why EMS packages would not be given priority treatment at the port of entry in Trinidad and Tobago, or any other Caribbean country. I think it unreasonable that an express package should be unduly delayed at customs for days, and the customer told dryly by postal personnel (in the receiving country) that 'nothing can be done about it'. The postal administration sets the bar really low for people who may or may not otherwise be able to afford the service of major and, by extension, more reliable international couriers.
My prayer is that the experience described here is the exception rather than the norm.
R. Artwell
Anchovy, St James
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Manage Coronation trash better
I applaud the efforts being made to promote farmers' markets and the recent thrust to encourage persons to shop at Coronation Market.
I took up the challenge and began going to Coronation a few months ago and I must say that I enjoy it. Recently, however, I am noticing that at 5:30 a.m., the section near the entrance across from Tivoli is strewn with garbage.
Inside the Digicel covered section, the garbage bins are frequently overflowing and garbage builds up around the bins. Last month when I went, I was bothered by flies, which is something I hadn't experienced before.
It's a pity that such an admirable venture is being marred by a lack of effective waste removal. Managing the waste of Coronation is a perfect opportunity for the city to demonstrate its commitment to the environment.
The garbage needs to be removed frequently and there should be very little that early in the morning. Also, this is discarded fresh produce - can't it be collected and used for animal feed or compost?
The garbage situation at Coronation needs to be addressed immediately.
Charmaine Morris
Kingston 20
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Our news team visited Coronation Market three times this week - admittedly not as early as 5:30 a.m. - but did not notice any garbage pile-up. We'll be keeping our eyes open and continue to monitor the situation for Charmaine and other market shoppers.
Save My Road, Mike!
JDIP has been touted as the "saviour to Jamaica's infrastructure". But will it save your road? Send us photos of your pothole-riddled road and ask Works Minister Mike Henry if yours will be saved, or if you'll have to wait on your hibernating parish council. Email photos and letters to letters@gleanerjm.com, or mail to Save My Road, Mike!, The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.
More help needed
Dillon Avenue, off Beechwood Avenue and Walker Avenue, is in need of urgent repair.
Several other roads in this community are atrocious. Just take a look at Rousseau Road, Lyndhurst Crescent and all the other roads which connect with Maxfield Avenue, Lyndhurst Road and Rousseau Road.
Please, please, please, make a JDIP sign appear somewhere and at least give residents hope.
- Dennise McGregor, ele1@cwjamaica.com
Tell us about the positives and negatives affecting your community, school or any other social space. Email submissions to letters@gleanerjm.com.