THE RUSH by senior members of the Jamaica Labour Party to protect the interests of their constituents, regrettably sometimes leaves doubts in the minds of the public as to which side of the law they stand in the fight against crime.
Frequently the impression is conveyed of a knee-jerk criticism/opposition to government policies or action without a careful examination of the context in which they speak or the potential ramifications of their comments.
Olivia Grange's vociferous defence this week of her constituents' rights, for example, against the fear of potential police abuse as raids are carried out in sections of Central St. Catherine, is at variance with the deafening silence amid the murder and mayhem that preceded the recent security forces moves into the area.
It cannot be right to insist that the police withdraw from Spanish Town and allow the people, presumably if they have a mind, to be the watchdogs on criminality in the area. The town and its environs have been bleeding from rampant criminality for months apparently without sufficient support from either the public, business leaders or political leaders.
This is not to suggest that the police should be given uncritical support in their fight against crime. That would be unwise given the history of police abuses in this country. The memory of the 1992 deaths of Messrs Barrett, Forbes and Vassell who suffocated inside the Constant Spring Police Station hangs like an albatross around the collective neck of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
But that sordid episode should not be used a priori as ground to undermine the work of the security forces by making wild, unsubstantiated comments.
We do not believe the wholesale round-up of nearly 100 young people "for processing" from Spanish Town and its environs and the encircling of entire communities with concertina wires is appropriate action even within the context of the violence in Spanish Town.
But neither is Bruce Golding's hyperbolic comparison of the detentions with Nazi Germany's concentration camps. He might be forgiven for being overwhelmed with the giddy atmosphere of the political meeting where he made his comments on Wednesday night.
We sympathesize with the police commissioner's rebuttal of Ms. Grange's charges to the effect that he does not answer to politicians qua politicians. But we hope he remains vigilant that his men do their duty within the law and with respect for human rights.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
