HAMLET, IN his famous soliloquy, bemoans the "law's delay, the insolence of office" maladies which have been endemic in Jamaican society. The well known legal principle that not only must justice be done but it must appear to be done applies not only to important matters. In a democracy it should also apply to public officials who make decisions affecting citizens and who, therefore, should use their discretion reasonably and explain the reasons for their decisions.
Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), at the request of family members of two persons killed in alleged shoot-outs with the police, have requested that independent medical observers be allowed to monitor the official autopsies but this has been stalled by the Department of Forensic Pathology, headed by Dr. Royston Clifford. Apparently, Dr. Clifford does not wish the observing medical persons to take notes, despite the fact that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security has issued written guidelines permitting them. This has resulted in an unseemly stand-off between the Ministry, Dr. Clifford and JFJ, despite clearance from the Attorney-General. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself stated last week that the Government had decided that independent pathologists would be permitted to attend autopsies and take notes.
We are at a loss to understand what all the fuss is about. If Dr. Clifford does not want to seem to be obstructionist, he should give his reasons for being so skittish about another doctor observing his work. Another example of the conspiracy of silence is Mr. Milverton Reynolds, boss of the National Housing Development Corporation, who has refused to comment on the $4.4 billion of uncollected funds advanced to some beneficiaries of the Operation PRIDE scheme.
Unfortunately, the attitude of persons in authority in Jamaica is to be dictatorial and insensitive to the public. Such authoritarianism is encountered in early childhood education where teachers are more disciplinarians than loving care-givers. Many doctors in private practice do not explain to their patients the nature of their illnesses and some lawyers take on cases, collect fees up front and then neglect to pursue the matter with due diligence.
Lower-level civil servants, given a little power and discretion, can be cruel in the extreme in exacting performance from their fellow Jamaicans. It is time we rid ourselves of the insolence of office and the law's delay.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
