THE EDITOR, Sir:
IF YOU ever witnessed a shark feeding on dead meat, you will be in good standing to understand my point of view. When sharks are being fed, there is always a feeding frenzy, an out-of-control behaviour that can only be quieted when all the food is devoured.
The attacks on the credibility and legitimacy of the Jamaica police force is creating a frenzy that the public is feeding on. I hope the public frenzy comes to an end before all of Jamaica's police forces are devoured. I have been affected by and bore personal witness to the "brutality" of the Jamaican police force, but not for a minute do I ever question their overall legitimacy and usefulness. I have, however, on numerous occasions questioned their methodologies.
There is a love-hate relationship with the police force, but we all know if there were no police force and policemen and women with "extra-judicial" powers, Jamaica would be devoured by the war mongrels, wearing anything from three-piece suits to jeans and a T-shirt. The Jamaican people must realise the tough jobs the police officers are undertaking to clean up Jamaica; it is only through the public realisation and appreciation for their police officers and their jobs that Jamaica as a whole will begin to clean up the crime.
The police oftentimes are seen as the enemy, so in return they go on the defensive and treat everyone as enemies of the state. The police force is under tremendous pressure, not just from the public; there is also pressure from Scotland Yard and Amnesty International, and numerous other agencies looking over their shoulders, second-guessing their every move. You see, police officers are humans too and they are susceptible to mistakes, especially under the current climate created (not necessarily intentionally) by the above-mentioned watchdog groups and also the Jamaican public. When you mix a force of under-paid, under-appreciated, over-worked officers and a public ready for a feeding, you get a disaster ready to happen.
When you have a police in a situation as in Spanish Town, being challenged and maybe provoked, his first instinct is to protect, serve, and of course preserve his badge and subsequently his life.
The crowd fanned the fire that led to disaster. It was tragic that someone got hurt, but we must bury the past, like I have learned to do, and move towards a more pleasant and safe Jamaica; where police and public could once again be working for the same results.
There is an African saying that I would like to share with my fellow Jamaican people: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time to plant a tree is today."
I am, etc.,
GILLY GILBERT
GiG@hotmail.com
Bronx, New York
Via Go-Jamaica
